Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 1

हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः

Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath

Devanagari script

तं समीक्ष्य महासत्त्वं सत्त्ववान्हरिसत्तमः।वाक्यमर्थवदव्यग्रस्तमुवाच दशाननम्।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ samīkṣya mahāsattvaṃ sattvavān harisattamaḥ |

vākyam arthavad avyagras tam uvāca daśānanam ||

Translation

فلما تأمّل هانومان ذا العظمة، دَشَانانا القويّ، وهو خير القردة وثابت الشجاعة، خاطبه بهدوء بكلامٍ بليغٍ عميق المعنى.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• samīkṣya: having observed
• samīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, -ya), 'having observed'

• mahā-sattvam: the great-souled/very powerful one
• mahā-sattvam: Viśeṣaṇa of tam (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः (great in valor/being)

• sattvavān: courageous
• sattvavān: Viśeṣaṇa of harisattamaḥ (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sattvavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• hari-sattamaḥ: the best of monkeys (Hanuman)
• hari-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (best among monkeys)

• vākyam: speech, words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• arthavat: meaningful
• arthavat: Viśeṣaṇa of vākyam (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arthavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; agrees with vākyam

• avyagraḥ: unhurried, composed
• avyagraḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyagra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; agrees with harisattamaḥ

• tam: to him
• tam: Sampradāna/Karma (सम्प्रदान/Recipient as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• daśānanam: the ten-faced one (Rāvaṇa)
• daśānanam: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to tam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहि (one who has ten faces)

Context

Hanuman, the best of monkeys, looking at the very powerful Ravana spoke slowly these highly meaningful words.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa (Daśānana)

FAQs

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

Dharma-guided speech is calm and meaningful even before an enemy; truth is conveyed without agitation.

What is the narrative situation?

Transition to Sarga 51: Hanumān, now before Rāvaṇa’s court, begins his deliberate reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless composure (dhairya) and clarity of speech under pressure.