Shloka 1

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

तत्र दिव्योपमं मुख्यं स्फाटिकं रत्नभूषितम्।अवेक्षमाणो हनुमान् ददर्श शयनासनम्।।।।दान्तकाञ्चनचित्राङ्गैर्वैडूर्यैश्च वरासनैः।महार्हास्तरणोपेतैरुपपन्नं महाधनैः।।।।

Transliteration

tatra divyopamaṃ mukhyaṃ sphāṭikaṃ ratnabhūṣitam |

avekṣamāṇo hanumān dadarśa śayanāsanam ||

dāntakāñcana-citrāṅgair vaiḍūryaiś ca varāsanaiḥ |

mahārha-āstaraṇopetair upapannaṃ mahādhanaiḥ ||

Translation

وہاں ہنومان نے چاروں طرف نظر دوڑائی تو ایک نہایت برتر، دیویہ مانند شयन آسن دیکھا—شفّاف سفٹک سے بنا، رتنوں سے مُزیّن، ہاتھی دانت اور سونے کی نقش کاری سے آراستہ، ویدوریہ سے جڑا ہوا، اور نہایت قیمتی بچھونوں و غلافوں سے مزیّن—جو عظیم دولت کے شایانِ شان تھا۔

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• divya-upamam: of heavenly splendor
• divya-upamam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (divyā upamā yasya); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of śayanāsanam)

• mukhyam: principal/foremost
• mukhyam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• sphāṭikam: crystal (made)
• sphāṭikam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphāṭika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्रव्यविशेषण (crystal-made)

• ratna-bhūṣitam: adorned with gems
• ratna-bhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (कृदन्त, √bhūṣ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ratnaiḥ bhūṣitam); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• avekṣamāṇaḥ: looking around
• avekṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• hanumān: Hanuman
• hanumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śayana-āsanam: a couch/bed-seat
• śayana-āsanam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayana (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (śayanaṃ ca āsanaṃ ca); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

Context

Looking around, Hanuman noticed a bed chamber, with a heavenly dais on which he saw a couch encrusted with crystals, vaidurya, and inlaid with colourful ivory and gold. It had an exquisite rich covering.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• vaidūrya (gem)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds discernment and vigilance: Hanumān carefully observes his surroundings before acting. In dharma-terms, right action is grounded in attentive awareness rather than impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Inside Laṅkā’s inner chambers, Hanumān surveys the opulent sleeping quarters and notices a magnificent couch, setting the stage for his encounter with Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s alertness and self-control—he investigates methodically, maintaining focus on his mission.