Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 16

द्वादशः सर्गः — हनूमतः अन्तःपुरविचयः

Hanuman’s Search Through Ravana’s Inner Apartments

Devanagari script

उत्पतन्निष्पतंश्चापि तिष्ठन्गच्छन् पुनः पुनः।अपावृण्वंश्च द्वाराणि कवाटान्यवघाटयन्।।5.12.15।।प्रविशन्निष्पतंश्चापि प्रपतन्नुत्पतन्नपि।सर्वमप्यवकाशं स विचचार महाकपिः।।5.12.16।।

Transliteration

utpatan niṣpataṃś cāpi tiṣṭhan gacchan punaḥ punaḥ |

apāvṛṇvaṃś ca dvārāṇi kavāṭāny avaghāṭayan ||

praviśan niṣpataṃś cāpi prapatan utpatan api |

sarvam apy avakāśaṃ sa vicacāra mahākapiḥ ||

Translation

Hết nhảy vọt rồi hạ xuống, hết đứng lại rồi đi tiếp, lặp đi lặp lại; mở các lối vào, đẩy bật then cửa. Khi thì bước vào rồi lại lao ra, khi thì rơi xuống rồi lại vút lên; đại hầu ấy đã rong ruổi khắp mọi chỗ còn có thể dò xét.

Word by Word

• utpatan: jumping up / leaping
• utpatan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut√pat (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (contextual)

• niṣpatan: leaping out / darting out
• niṣpatan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nis√pat (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (contextual)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• tiṣṭhan: standing
• tiṣṭhan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (contextual)

• gacchan: going
• gacchan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (contextual)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिबोधक अव्यय (adverb: again)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिबोधक अव्यय (adverb: again)

• apāvṛṇvan: opening
• apāvṛṇvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (contextual)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• dvārāṇi: doorways / entrances
• dvārāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) बहुवचन (Accusative plural, neuter)

• kavāṭāni: door-panels / shutters
• kavāṭāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Accusative plural, neuter)

• avaghāṭayan: striking down / pushing aside
• avaghāṭayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√ghaṭ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (contextual)

Context

Thinking thus, he started searching once again the basement cells, temples, homes within homes.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (Mahākapi)
• Rāvaṇa’s inner palace (implicit)

FAQs

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

Dharma is energetic, disciplined action: Hanumān does not merely intend good—he exerts body and mind fully to fulfill a righteous responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration depicts the intensity and breadth of Hanumān’s search as he moves through doors, passages, and levels of the palace complex.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor/energy) joined with perseverance—unceasing effort in service of truth and justice.