Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 42

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

Survey of Ravana’s Residence and Lanka’s Inner Quarters

Devanagari script

मध्वासवकृतक्लेदं मणिभाजनसङ्कुलम्।।।।मनोरममसंबाधं कुबेरभवनं यथा।नूपुराणां च घोषेण काञ्चीनां निनदेन च।।।।मृदङ्तलघोषैश्च घोषवद्भिर्विनादितम्।प्रासादसङ्घातयुतं स्त्रीरत्नशतसङ्कुलम्।।।सुव्यूढकक्ष्यं हनुमान् प्रविवेश महागृहाम्।

Transliteration

madhvāsavakṛtakledaṃ maṇibhājanasaṅkulam |

manōramam asaṃbādhaṃ kubērabhavanaṃ yathā |

nūpurāṇāṃ ca ghoṣeṇa kāñcīnāṃ ninadena ca |

mṛdaṅgatalaghoṣaiś ca ghoṣavadbhir vināditam |

prāsādasaṅghātayutaṃ strīratnaśatasaṅkulam |

suvyūḍhakakṣyaṃ hanumān praviveśa mahāgṛham ||

Translation

Hanumān memasuki sebuah mahāgṛha yang luas dan menawan, bagaikan kediaman Kubera: lantainya lembap oleh madu-anggur dan arak, balairungnya sarat dengan bejana bertatah permata. Ia bergema dengan bunyi gelang kaki dan tali pinggang berloceng, serta dentuman gendang; bersambung dengan gugusan istana, dipenuhi ratusan wanita permata, dan ruang dalamnya tersusun rapi.

Word by Word

• niveśanānām: of the dwellings
• niveśanānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: niveśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• vividhāḥ: various
• vividhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agrees with śālāḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• śālāḥ: halls
• śālāḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• pradhānaśaṅkhāyudhacāpaśālāḥ: halls for storing chief conches, weapons, and bows
• pradhānaśaṅkhāyudhacāpaśālāḥ: Karma (Object; appositional to śālāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna + śaṅkha + āyudha + cāpa + śālā (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: pradhāna-śaṅkha-āyudha-cāpa-śālāḥ (halls for chief conches, weapons, and bows)

• manoharāḥ: charming
• manoharāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies candraśālāḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla/krama-avyaya (again; adverb/अव्यय)

• viśālāḥ: spacious
• viśālāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies candraśālāḥ

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• veśmādriṣu: on the house-heights/terraces
• veśmādriṣu: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśma + adri (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: veśmāṇām adriṣu (on the house-roofs/attic-like heights)

• candraśālāḥ: moonlit terraces
• candraśālāḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra + śālā (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (object plural; though form = nominative plural), Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: candrasya śālāḥ (moon-terraces; terraces open to moonlight)

Context

The place was full of beautful women, carefully protected by disciplined guards as well as demons.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Kubera
• Laṅkā (implied setting)
• mṛdaṅga (drum)
• women of the palace

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma here is shown through contrast: overwhelming luxury, sensuality, and noise surround Hanumān, yet his righteous duty remains unchanged—steadfastness to mission and truth over indulgence.

What is the narrative situation?

During his covert search in Laṅkā, Hanumān enters a grand inner mansion and observes its opulence and revelry while continuing to look for Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Naiṣṭhikya (single-pointed commitment) and self-mastery—Hanumān remains disciplined amid distractions.