Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 1

राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनविचारः

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

Devanagari script

स निकामं विमानेषु निषण्णः कामरूपधृत्।विचचार पुनर्लङ्कां लाघवेन समन्वितः।।।।

Transliteration

sa nikāmaṃ vimāneṣu niṣaṇṇaḥ kāmarūpadhṛt |

vicacāra punar laṅkāṃ lāghavena samanvitaḥ ||5.6.1||

Translation

Podendo assumir à vontade qualquer forma, ele—depois de se sentar e perscrutar os altos palácios sem êxito—voltou a percorrer Laṅkā, ágil, veloz e incansável.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• nikāmam: freely/at will
• nikāmam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nikāma (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: at will/freely)

• vimāneṣu: in mansions
• vimāneṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• niṣaṇṇaḥ: seated/absorbed
• niṣaṇṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣaṇṇa (कृदन्त; √sad (सद्) + नि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘seated/sunk (in thought)’ (PPP)

• kāma-rūpa-dhṛt: able to assume any form at will
• kāma-rūpa-dhṛt: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhṛt (कृदन्त; √dhṛ (धृ) + क्तिन्/क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘one who holds/assumes forms at will’

• vicacāra: roamed
• vicacāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम; ‘wandered/roamed’

• punar: again
• punar: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (again)

• laṅkām: Lanka
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• lāghavena: with speed/lightness
• lāghavena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• samanvitaḥ: endowed (with speed)
• samanvitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samanvita (कृदन्त; √i (इ) + sam + anu + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘endowed/possessed’ (PPP)

Context

The mighty Hanuman, who could assume any form at will, not finding Sita in the tall mansions, again started rapidly ranging in Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• vimānas (lofty mansions)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as steadfast service: even when discouraged, one continues the righteous mission without abandoning truth-seeking.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān has searched many mansions and, not yet finding Sītā, resumes his search across Laṅkā with speed and adaptability.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and resourcefulness—unbroken effort in a duty undertaken for another’s welfare.