Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 16

हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः

Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath

Devanagari script

भ्रमता च मया दृष्टा गृहे ते जनकात्मजा।।।।तद्भवान् दृष्टधर्मार्थस्तपःकृतपरिग्रहः।परदारान् महाप्राज्ञ नोपरोद्धुं त्वमर्हसि।।।।

Transliteration

bhramatā ca mayā dṛṣṭā gṛhe te janakātmajā | tad bhavān dṛṣṭadharmārthas tapaḥkṛtaparigrahaḥ | paradārān mahāprājña noparoddhuṃ tvam arhasi ||

Translation

وأنا أطوف رأيتُ ابنةَ جانَكا في بيتك. وأنتَ عارفٌ بالدارما والأرثا، متحصّنٌ بالتقشّف (التابَس)؛ فلا يليق بك، أيّها الحكيم العظيم، أن تغتصب زوجةَ رجلٍ آخر.

Word by Word

• भ्रमता: while roaming
• भ्रमता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शतॄ), तृतीया-एकवचन (करण/सहभाव), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव; 'भ्रमन्' = roaming

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; 'by me'

• दृष्टा: was seen
• दृष्टा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः; 'seen'

• गृहे: in (your) house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; 'in the house'

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; 'of you/your'

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter (Sita)
• जनकात्मजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जनकस्य आत्मजा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

Context

"While I was roaming I saw Janaka's daughter Sita at your house.You are a knower of the truth of righteousness. You are very wise and carrried out great austerities. It does not behove you to abduct another man's wife.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Janakātmajā)
• Janaka
• Rāvaṇa (implied by address)

FAQs

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

Paradāra-agrahaṇa: taking or holding another’s spouse is adharma and violates moral order (maryādā).

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān confirms he has seen Sītā in Rāvaṇa’s house and urges Rāvaṇa to abandon the wrongdoing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity and fearless counsel—Hanumān speaks truth (satya) directly to power.