Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 26

हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः

Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath

Devanagari script

अवध्यतां तपोभिर्यां भवान् समनुपश्यति।आत्मनः सासुरैर्देवैर्हेतुस्तत्राप्ययं महान्।।।।

Transliteration

avadhyatāṃ tapobhir yāṃ bhavān samanupaśyati | ātmanaḥ sāsurair devair hetus tatrāpy ayaṃ mahān ||

Translation

By your austerities you perceive in yourself an inviolability—even against gods together with asuras; yet even then, this very matter can become a great cause of your death.

Word by Word

• अवध्यताम्: invulnerability / not-to-be-killed state
• अवध्यताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवध्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); भाववाचक-नाम (abstract noun)

• तपोभिः: by austerities
• तपोभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.)

• याम्: whom/which
• याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific)

• समनुपश्यति: sees/observes
• समनुपश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Pres.), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: सम्+अनु

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.)

• सासुरैः: together with asuras
• सासुरैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-कारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.); उपपद-समासवत् प्रयोग: 'स-' = 'सहित' (with)

• देवैः: with the gods
• देवैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-कारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.)

• हेतुः: cause/reason
• हेतुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• तत्र: there/in that matter
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (qualifier)

Context

"You know you will not be killed by asuras or gods. In that case also this (keeping Sita with you) may be the prime cause of your death.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

Power and boons do not override moral law: adharma generates its own fatal causes, even when ordinary threats seem excluded.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān undermines Rāvaṇa’s confidence in invulnerability, warning that Sītā’s wrongful captivity itself will trigger his downfall.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-speaking with strategic clarity—Hanumān points out the ethical loophole in Rāvaṇa’s sense of security.