Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 4

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Sarga 42): Omens in Laṅkā, Report to Rāvaṇa, and the Kinkara Assault

Devanagari script

स ता दृष्ट्वा महाबाहुर्महासत्त्वो महाबलः।चकार सुमहद्रूपं राक्षसीनां भयावहम्।।5.42.4।।

Transliteration

sa tā dṛṣṭvā mahābāhur mahāsattvo mahābalaḥ | cakāra sumahad rūpaṃ rākṣasīnāṃ bhayāvaham || 5.42.4 ||

Translation

Als er jene Rākṣasīs erblickte, nahm Hanumān, stark an Armen, groß an Wesen und mächtig an Kraft, eine überaus gewaltige Gestalt an, um ihnen Furcht einzujagen.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tāḥ: them
• tāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्, दर्शन)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• mahābāhuḥ: one with mighty arms
• mahābāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (महान्तौ बाहू यस्य)

• mahāsattvaḥ: great hero
• mahāsattvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारयः (महद् सत्त्वम्)

• mahābalaḥ: very strong one
• mahābalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (महद् बलं यस्य)

• cakāra: made/assumed
• cakāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, करणे)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• sumahat: very huge
• sumahat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; intensifier su-; agrees with rūpam

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• rākṣasīnām: of/for the ogresses
• rākṣasīnām: Sampradana/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• bhayāvaham: fear-bringing
• bhayāvaham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक; from √vah/वह्, वहने with ā-)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (भयं आवहति इति)

Context

When the powerful, mighty and strong-armed Hanuman saw the ogresses he assumed a very huge form in order to strike terror in them.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• rākṣasī-s (ogresses)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is protective strength used in service of a righteous mission: Hanumān employs power strategically to deter harm and advance Rāma’s cause, not for cruelty or vanity.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā, Hanumān confronts the rākṣasī guards; upon seeing them, he enlarges his form to intimidate and control the encounter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (courage/power) guided by purpose—fearlessness and tactical intelligence in the service of dharma.