Shloka 37

लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्

Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry

Devanagari script

केनोपायेन पश्येयं मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम्।अदृष्टो राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना।।।।

Transliteration

kenopāyena paśyeyaṃ maithilīṃ janakātmajām | adṛṣṭo rākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena durātmanā ||

Translation

Por que meio poderei ver Maithilī, filha de Janaka, sem ser visto por Rāvaṇa, o perverso senhor dos rākṣasas?

Word by Word

• kena: by what
• kena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• upāyena: by means/method
• upāyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• paśyeyam: may I see/find
• paśyeyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• maithilīm: Maithilī (Sītā)
• maithilīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• janakātmajām: Janaka’s daughter
• janakātmajām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘Janaka’s daughter’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• adṛṣṭaḥ: unseen (without being seen)
• adṛṣṭaḥ: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त (PPP) ‘unseen’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (of ‘aham’)

• rākṣasendreṇa: by the lord of demons
• rākṣasendreṇa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘lord of demons’), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• rāvaṇena: by Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition to rākṣasendreṇa)

• durātmanā: evil-minded
• durātmanā: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘one whose self is evil’), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of rāvaṇena)

Context

'By what means can I find Mythili, daughter of Janaka, without being noticed by the evil-minded Ravana, the lord of demons?

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Sita (Maithili, Janaka's daughter)
• Ravana
• Rakshasas (demons)
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma emphasizes accomplishing a righteous duty without endangering others; Hanumān seeks a method that preserves the mission’s integrity and avoids reckless exposure.

What is the narrative situation?

Inside Laṅkā, Hanumān plans how to locate Sītā while remaining undetected by Rāvaṇa and his forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic restraint: he values the success of the task over display of power, aligning strength with disciplined purpose.