Shloka 13

अङ्गद

उपदेशः — Hanuman’s Counsel to Angada on Succession and Strategy

Devanagari script

यां चेमां मन्यसे धात्रीमेतद्बिलमिति श्रुतम्।एतल्लक्ष्मणबाणानामीषत्कार्यं विदारणे।।।।

Transliteration

yāṃ cemāṃ manyase dhātrīm etad bilam iti śrutam |

etal lakṣmaṇa-bāṇānām īṣat kāryaṃ vidāraṇe || 4.54.13 ||

Translation

Und diese Erdspalte, die du für eine „Höhle“ hältst — so heißt es — wäre für Lakṣmaṇas Pfeile nur eine geringe Sache, sie zu spalten und aufzureißen.

Word by Word

• स्वल्पम्: a little
• स्वल्पम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘a little (thing)’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात)

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘done’

• इन्द्रेण: by Indra
• इन्द्रेण: Karaṇa/Agent (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• क्षिपता: while throwing
• क्षिपता: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘while throwing’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात)

• अशनिम्: thunderbolt
• अशनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (काल/adverb of time): ‘formerly’

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √शि/√शा ‘to sharpen’ + नि-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘bāṇaiḥ’)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• भिन्ध्यात्: could split/shatter
• भिन्ध्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भिद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पत्रपुटम्: a leaf-cup
• पत्रपुटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र-पुट (प्रातिपदिक; पत्र + पुट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे नपुंसक), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यथा: like
• यथा: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमा/comparative particle): ‘as if/like’

Context

'You may think it safe to stay here in this opening of the earth. It is a petty task for the arrows of Lakshmana to break open this so-called cave.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• bāṇa (arrows)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires clear-eyed truth (satya) about one’s situation: false security and self-deception lead to adharma through irresponsible decisions.

What is the narrative situation?

The counsellor undermines the plan of hiding in a ‘cave’ by stressing that Lakṣmaṇa can easily breach it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthful realism—dispelling complacency so that duty can be pursued without illusion.