Shloka 40

Devanagari script

कथं नु खलु वाक्यं मे शृणुयान्नोद्विजेत वा।इति सञ्चिन्त्य हनुमांश्चकार मतिमान्मतिम्।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ nu khalu vākyaṃ me śṛṇuyān nodvijet vā | iti sañcintya hanumāṃś cakāra matimān matim ||

Translation

“সীতা কেনেকৈ মোৰ বাক্য শুনি ভয় নাপাব?” বুলি চিন্তা কৰি, বুদ্ধিমান হনুমানে মনত সাৱধান উপায় স্থিৰ কৰিলে।

Word by Word

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• nu: indeed
• nu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-निपात (emphatic interrogative)

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अनुनय-निपात (particle: "indeed/really")

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया; एकवचनम्

• me: my
• me: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी; एकवचनम्

• śṛṇuyāt: may hear/listen
• śṛṇuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; (contextually: "she may listen")

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• udvijet: may be alarmed
• udvijet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud- + √vij (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; (contextually: "she may become agitated")

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय ("or")

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति-निपात (quotative: "thus")

• sañcintya: having reflected
• sañcintya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam- + √cint (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• hanumān: Hanuman
• hanumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा; एकवचनम्

• cakāra: made/did
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लिट् (Perfect); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्

• matimān: wise/intelligent
• matimān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा; एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् hanumān

• matim: a plan/thought
• matim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; द्वितीया; एकवचनम्

Context

Wise Hanuman came to a decision after reflecting in his mind about how not to create fear in Sita (while communicating with her.)

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma in speech is non-harming truth: even truthful words must be delivered with sensitivity so they do not create fear or distress in the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Just before approaching Sītā, Hanumān decides on a method of speaking that will gain her trust without startling her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and tact—wisdom expressed as careful communication.