Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 36

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Sarga 42): Omens in Laṅkā, Report to Rāvaṇa, and the Kinkara Assault

Devanagari script

अर्दयित्वा पुरीं लङ्कामभिवाद्य च मैथिलीम्।समृद्धार्थो गमिष्यामि मिषतां सर्वरक्षसाम्।।5.42.36।।

Transliteration

ardayitvā purīṃ laṅkām abhivādya ca maithilīm |

samṛddhārtho gamiṣyāmi miṣatāṃ sarva-rakṣasām ||5.42.36||

Translation

“After crushing the city of Laṅkā, and paying my respects to Maithilī (Sītā), I shall depart with my purpose fulfilled—while all the rākṣasas look on.”

Word by Word

• अर्दयित्वा: having destroyed
• अर्दयित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ard (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा) absolutive/gerund; causative sense ‘having crushed/destroyed’

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to पुरीम्

• अभिवाद्य: having paid respects to
• अभिवाद्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vad (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा) absolutive/gerund (form in -ya); ‘having saluted’

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

• मैथिलीम्: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिलीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• समृद्ध-अर्थः: having accomplished my purpose
• समृद्ध-अर्थः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samṛddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) ‘yasya arthaḥ samṛddhaḥ’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with (implicit) अहम्

• गमिष्यामि: I shall go/return
• गमिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्) periphrastic future, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• मिषताम्: as (they) watch
• मिषताम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण, circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: miṣat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (शतृ) present active participle; Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); used as ‘while (they) look on’

• सर्व-रक्षसाम्: of all the rakshasas
• सर्व-रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘sarveṣāṃ rakṣasām’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

"I shall destroy the city of Lanka and pay my respects to Mythili right under the nose of all demons. I will return with my purpose accomplished.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Hanumān
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is goal-oriented righteousness with reverence: even amid destruction of adharma’s stronghold, Hanumān prioritizes honoring Sītā and completing the entrusted task.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān declares his intent to damage Laṅkā and then respectfully approach Sītā, escaping despite the demons’ watch.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-pointed resolve (niścaya) joined with respect (abhivādana) toward the virtuous.