Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 51

रावणान्तःपुरे शयनदर्शनम्

Hanumān Observes Rāvaṇa’s Inner Apartments and Sleeping Court

Devanagari script

मुक्तामणिसमायुक्तैर्भूषणैः सुविभूषिताम्।विभूषयन्तीमिव तत्स्वश्रिया भवनोत्तमम्।।।।गौरीं कनकवर्णाभामिष्टामन्तः पुरेश्वरीम्।कपिर्मन्दोदरीं तत्र शयानां चारुरूपिणीम्।।।।

Transliteration

muktā-maṇi-samāyuktair bhūṣaṇaiḥ su-vibhūṣitām |

vibhūṣayantīm iva tat-svaśriyā bhavanottamam ||

gaurīṃ kanaka-varṇābhām iṣṭām antaḥpureśvarīm |

kapiḥ mandodarīṃ tatra śayānāṃ cāru-rūpiṇīm ||

Translation

猴子在那里看见曼多达丽，容姿娟美，安然而卧；她以镶嵌珍珠与宝石的饰物华丽装点，仿佛凭自身光辉便装饰了那最胜宫殿。她肤色皎洁、金辉流映，是内宫所敬爱的主后。

Word by Word

• मुक्तामणिसमायुक्तैः: combined with pearls and gems
• मुक्तामणिसमायुक्तैः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ता + मणि + समायुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (भूषणैः इति सह विशेषणत्वेन), तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुक्तामणिभिः समायुक्तैः), विशेषणम् (qualifying भूषणैः)

• भूषणैः: with ornaments
• भूषणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; "with ornaments"

• सुविभूषिताम्: well adorned
• सुविभूषिताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + विभूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), "well-adorned" (qualifying her)

• विभूषयन्तीम्: adorning
• विभूषयन्तीम्: कर्तृसम्बन्ध (Predicative/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-भूष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; "adorning"

• इव: as if
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparator/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• तत्स्वश्रिया: by her radiance
• तत्स्वश्रिया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + स्वश्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्य स्वश्रिया = "by her/its own radiance"), "with radiance"

• भवनोत्तमम्: the excellent mansion
• भवनोत्तमम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमं भवनम्), "the best mansion"

Context

Then the vanara saw a very beautiful woman of golden complexion decked with pearls and gems and with ornaments as if illuminating the excellent mansion with her splendour She was the king's favourite and the chief queen, Mandodari.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Mandodari
• antaḥpura (inner apartments)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as truthful recognition: beauty and royal status must not mislead the seeker; Hanuman must find Sita by signs consistent with her chastity and suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman identifies a prominent sleeping woman in the harem as Mandodari, Ravana’s chief queen, noting her splendor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discrimination and fidelity to truth (satya-niṣṭhā): Hanuman must not confuse appearances with Sita’s reality.