Shloka 5

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman’s Stealth Entry and Survey of Lanka

Devanagari script

हसितोत्कृष्टनिनदैस्तूर्यघोषपुरस्सरैः।वज्रांकुशनिकाशैश्च वज्रजालविभूषितैः।।।।गृहमेघैः पुरी रम्या बभासे द्यौरिवाम्बुदैः।

Transliteration

hasitotkṛṣṭa-ninadais tūrya-ghoṣa-purassaraiḥ |

vajrāṅkuśa-nikāśaiś ca vajra-jāla-vibhūṣitaiḥ |

gṛha-meghaiḥ purī ramyā babhāse dyaur ivāmbudaiḥ ||

Translation

Thành ấy diễm lệ rạng ngời như bầu trời đầy mây: những “mây” lâu đài vang tiếng cười giòn và tiếng nhạc khí rền vang; lại được trang sức bằng các chốt, móc tựa kim cương, cùng những giàn lưới sáng chói như vajra.

Word by Word

• prajajvāla: blazed/shone forth
• prajajvāla: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-jval (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• laṅkā: Lanka
• laṅkā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• rakṣogaṇa-gṛhaiḥ: with houses of demon-groups
• rakṣogaṇa-gṛhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural; compound: rakṣogaṇānāṃ gṛhaiḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• śubhaiḥ: auspicious/splendid
• śubhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with gṛhaiḥ

• sitābhra-sadṛśaiḥ: like white clouds
• sitābhra-sadṛśaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + abhra (प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with gṛhaiḥ; 'resembling white clouds' (उपमान-तत्पुरुष)

• citraiḥ: variegated/painted
• citraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with gṛhaiḥ

• padma-svastika-saṃsthitaiḥ: decorated with lotus and svastika designs
• padma-svastika-saṃsthitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + svastika (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with gṛhaiḥ; 'set/arranged with lotus and svastika (motifs)' (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• vardhamāna-gṛhaiḥ: with lofty/prosperous houses
• vardhamāna-gṛhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vardhamāna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; compound: vardhamānāni gṛhāṇi (कर्मधारय)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), 'also/even'

• sarvataḥ: everywhere
• sarvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (दिक्कालवाचक अव्यय)

• su-vibhūṣitā: well adorned
• su-vibhūṣitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with laṅkā; PPP (क्त) from vi-√bhūṣ

Context

And then the great vanara entered the wonderful mansion that resembled heaven. It was resonating with pleasing sounds of jingling ornaments made more noisy by the neighing of the horses. There were carriages, chariots, flying chariots, horses and elephants. The beautiful entrance was looking splendid with intoxicated animals and birds. That place looked splendid with fourtusked elephants resembling heaps of white clouds. The beautiful entrance was guarded by thousands of valiant demons.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly contrasts outer splendor with inner righteousness: dazzling wealth can exist even in an unrighteous realm, so dharma requires discernment beyond appearances.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān observes Laṅkā’s opulent cityscape—sounds, festivities, and jewel-like architecture.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and attentiveness: he carefully surveys the environment rather than getting swept away by luxury.