Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 35

लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम्

Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry

Devanagari script

लक्ष्यालक्ष्येण रूपेण रात्रौ लङ्का पुरी मया।प्रवेष्टुं प्राप्तकालं मे कृत्यं साधयितुं महत्।।।।

Transliteration

lakṣyālakṣyeṇa rūpeṇa rātrau laṅkā purī mayā | praveṣṭuṃ prāptakālaṃ me kṛtyaṃ sādhayituṃ mahat ||

Translation

Чтобы исполнить это великое дело, настал мой час: ночью войду я в город Ланку, приняв облик и видимый и невидимый — никем не замеченный.

Word by Word

• lakṣyālakṣyeṇa: with (a form) both noticeable and unnoticeable / inconspicuous
• lakṣyālakṣyeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣya + alakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (lakṣya-alakṣya ‘conspicuous/inconspicuous’ as a pair), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (with rūpeṇa)

• rūpeṇa: with a form
• rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• rātrau: at night
• rātrau: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• laṅkā: Laṅkā
• laṅkā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य (with purī as apposition)

• purī: city
• purī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition to laṅkā)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• praveṣṭum: to enter
• praveṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive)

• prāptakālam: timely/at the right time
• prāptakālam: Karma-dharma (कर्मधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (‘time-having-arrived’ = timely), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of kṛtyam / implied action)

• me: my/for me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• kṛtyam: task/duty
• kṛtyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object of sādhayitum)

• sādhayitum: to accomplish
• sādhayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sādh (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma-dharma (कर्मधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of kṛtyam)

Context

'To accomplish this great task I will have to assume an inconspicious form and enter the city of Lanka in the night as that is the appropriate time.

Characters & Entities

• Lanka

FAQs

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

Dharma aligns timing and method with truth and protection: a righteous goal may require quiet, non-harmful entry to prevent needless violence and safeguard Sita.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman resolves to take an inconspicuous form and enter Lanka by night to search effectively for Sita.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and strategic devotion—he chooses stealth over display so the mission succeeds with minimal risk.