Ramayana — Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 1
हनूमता सुग्रीवस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः
Hanuman’s Counsel on Timely Ally-Duty
समीक्ष्य विमलं व्योम गतविद्युद्वलाहकम्।सारसाकुलसङ्घुष्टं रम्यज्योत्स्नानुलेपनम्।।समृद्धार्थं च सुग्रीवं मन्दधर्मार्थसङ्ग्रहम्।अत्यर्थमसतां मार्गमेकान्तगतमानसम्।।निर्वृत्तकार्यं सिद्धार्थं प्रमदाभिरतं सदा।प्राप्तवन्तमभिप्रेतान्सर्वानेव मनोरथान्।।स्वां च पत्नीमभिप्रेतां तारां चापि समीप्सिताम्।विहरन्तमहोरात्रं कृतार्थं विगतज्वरम्।।क्रीडन्तमिव देवेशं नन्दनेऽप्सरसां गणैः।मन्त्रिषु न्यस्तकार्यं च मन्त्रिणामनवेक्षकम्।।उत्सन्नराज्यसन्देशं कामवृत्तमवस्थितम्।निश्चितार्थोऽर्थतत्त्वज्ञः कालधर्मविशेषवित्।।प्रसाद्य वाक्यैर्मधुरैर्हेतुमद्भिर्मनोरमैः।वाक्यविद्वाक्य तत्त्वज्ञं हरीशं मारुतात्मजः।।हितं तत्त्वं च पथ्यं च सामधर्मार्थनीतिमत्।प्रणयप्रीतिसंयुक्तं विश्वासकृतनिश्चयम्।हरीश्वरमुपागम्य हनूमान्वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।
samīkṣya vimalaṁ vyoma gata-vidyud-valāhakam | sārasākula-saṅghuṣṭaṁ ramya-jyotsnānulepanam || samṛddhārthaṁ ca sugrīvaṁ manda-dharmārtha-saṅgraham | atyartham asatāṁ mārgam ekānta-gata-mānasam || nirvṛtta-kāryaṁ siddhārthaṁ pramadābhirataṁ sadā | prāptavantam abhipretān sarvān eva manorathān || svāṁ ca patnīm abhipretāṁ tārāṁ cāpi samīpsitām | viharantam aho-rātraṁ kṛtārthaṁ vigata-jvaram || krīḍantam iva deveśaṁ nandane ’psarasāṁ gaṇaiḥ | mantriṣu nyasta-kāryaṁ ca mantriṇām anavekṣakam || utsanna-rājya-sandeśaṁ kāma-vṛttam avasthitam | niścitārtho ’rtha-tattva-jñaḥ kāla-dharma-viśeṣa-vit || prasādya vākyair madhurair hetumadbhir manoramaiḥ | vākyavid vākya-tattva-jñaṁ harīśaṁ mārutātmajaḥ || hitaṁ tattvaṁ ca pathyaṁ ca sāma-dharmārtha-nītimat | praṇaya-prīti-saṁyuktaṁ viśvāsa-kṛta-niścayam | harīśvaram upāgamya hanūmān vākyam abravīt ||
Seeing the sky clear—free of lightning and clouds—resounding with herons and gently anointed with lovely moonlight, Hanuman observed Sugriva: prosperous, yet slack in gathering dharma and artha; excessively turned toward the ways of the unworthy, his mind fixed on private pleasures. His purpose achieved, his desires fulfilled, he was ever absorbed in women—enjoying day and night with his own wives and with Tara whom he longed for—carefree and without anxiety. Like Indra sporting in Nandana among hosts of apsarases, he played on, having entrusted affairs to ministers while remaining inattentive to them, neglecting royal communications and settled in a life of sensual indulgence. Then Hanuman—firm in resolve, knowing the principles of policy, and discerning the duties of time—approached the monkey-lord. Having determined to win his confidence, he pleased him with sweet, reasonable, and charming words, and spoke what was beneficial, true, wholesome, and aligned with conciliation, righteousness, and sound statecraft—words filled with affection and goodwill.
Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, saw the clear sky flooded with lovely moonlight, free from clouds and lightning and cackling of herons. He noticed that because Sugriva had attained abundant wealth and merit, he was not taking care of the kingdom. He was engrossed in sensual pleasures. Having accomplished the desired object, he was engaged in enjoyment of the company of women, his own wives and Tara, whom he coveted. He was strolling (in the pleasant garden) night and day without caring for the kingdom, entrusting it to the ministers whose movements he did not watch. He was sporting with women like Indra sports with apsaras in the Nandana garden.Hanuman, who was conscious of his duties and responsibilities, who was aware of the importance of action in time and who was skilful in speech approached Sugriva, king of the monkeys. Having decided to take him into confidence, Hanuman spoke in a convincing, well-meaning, sweet, pleasing manner words truthful and helpful, conciliatory and just, full of love and affection:
FAQs
Rulership demands kāla-dharma—timely performance of duty. Prosperity and pleasure must not eclipse responsibility; truthful, beneficial counsel (satya + hita) is a dharmic corrective.
With the season turned and conditions favorable, Hanuman finds Sugriva absorbed in pleasure and neglecting governance and obligations; Hanuman approaches to counsel him diplomatically.
Hanuman’s strategic righteousness: he combines truth with gentleness—reasoned, affectionate, confidence-building speech aimed at restoring duty.