Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 9

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्

Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

तन्त्रीस्वनाः कर्णसुखाः प्रवृत्ताः स्वपन्ति नार्यः पतिभिः सुवृत्ताः।नक्तंचराश्चापि तथा प्रवृत्ता: विहर्तुमत्यद्भुतरौद्रवृत्ताः।।5.5.9।।

Transliteration

tantrī-svanāḥ karṇa-sukhāḥ pravṛttāḥ svapanti nāryaḥ patibhiḥ su-vṛttāḥ | naktaṃ-carāś cāpi tathā pravṛttā vihartum aty-adbhuta-raudra-vṛttāḥ || 5.5.9 ||

Translation

ਤੰਤਰੀ ਵਾਜਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਕਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਖ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸੁਰ ਚੱਲ ਪਏ; ਸੁਵ੍ਰਿੱਤ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀਆਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਪਤੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੁੱਤ ਗਈਆਂ; ਅਤੇ ਨਕਤੰਚਰ ਵੀ ਉਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਿਕਲ ਪਏ—ਅਤਿ ਅਦਭੁਤ, ਰੌਦ੍ਰ ਤੇ ਕ੍ਰੂਰ ਕਰਤੂਤਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਹਾਰ ਕਰਨ ਲੱਗੇ।

Word by Word

• tantrī-svanāḥ: string-instrument sounds
• tantrī-svanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tantrī (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘sounds of string-instruments’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• karṇa-sukhāḥ: pleasing to the ears
• karṇa-sukhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘pleasant to the ear’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• pravṛttāḥ: begun
• pravṛttāḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-vṛt (धातु) → pravṛtta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta (PPP); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘set in motion/started’

• svapanti: sleep
• svapanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: svap (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• nāryaḥ: women
• nāryaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• patibhiḥ: with (their) husbands
• patibhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (तृतीया/3rd), Bahuvacana

• su-vṛttāḥ: virtuous/chaste
• su-vṛttāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vṛtta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: ‘well-conducted/chaste’; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (agreeing with nāryaḥ)

• naktaṃ-carāḥ: night-walkers (demons)
• naktaṃ-carāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naktaṃ (अव्यय) + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: ‘night-walker’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle ‘also’

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb ‘likewise’

• pravṛttāḥ: set forth
• pravṛttāḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-vṛt (धातु) → pravṛtta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta (PPP); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vihartum: to sport/roam
• vihartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुन्); purpose (प्रयोजन)

• ati-adbhuta-raudra-vṛttāḥ: of exceedingly wondrous and fierce conduct
• ati-adbhuta-raudra-vṛttāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक) + raudra (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (multi-member): ‘exceedingly-wondrous and fierce in conduct’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (qualifying naktaṃ-carāḥ)

Context

Pleasing sounds of string instruments had begun to be heard. Chaste women were found asleep with their husbands.The night-rangers had begun their strange (evil and cruel) deeds exhibiting their anger.

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as good conduct in private life (su-vṛtta) contrasted with cruel nocturnal wrongdoing. The verse implies that righteousness is recognized by consistent behavior, not by spectacle.

What is the narrative situation?

Night life in Laṅkā is described: music and household rest occur alongside the ominous movement of violent night-wanderers, heightening tension for Hanumān’s covert mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment: the ability to distinguish ordinary human virtue from predatory cruelty, essential for navigating Laṅkā without compromising the mission.