Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 1

षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Ravana Deploys Five Generals; Hanuman Destroys the Commanders and the Remaining Host

Devanagari script

हतान्मन्त्रिसुतान् बुद्ध्वा वानरेण महात्मना।रावणस्संवृताकारश्चकार मतिमुत्तमाम्।।।।

Transliteration

hatān mantrisutān buddhvā vānarena mahātmanā |

rāvaṇaḥ saṃvṛtākāraś cakāra matim uttamām ||

Translation

Als Rāvaṇa erfuhr, dass die Söhne der Minister von dem großherzigen Affen erschlagen worden waren, verbarg er seine innere Erregung und fasste einen vortrefflichen Plan.

Word by Word

• हतान्: killed
• हतान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकाले कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण मन्त्रिसुतान्

• मन्त्रिसुतान्: sons of the ministers
• मन्त्रिसुतान्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of बुद्ध्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिसुत (प्रातिपदिक: मन्त्री + सुत)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sons of ministers)

• बुद्ध्वा: having known
• बुद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• वानरेण: by the vanara
• वानरेण: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument; by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महात्मना: great-souled
• महात्मना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण वानरेण

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संवृताकारः: with concealed expression
• संवृताकारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवृताकार (प्रातिपदिक: संवृत + आकार)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (concealed + appearance); विशेषण रावणः

• चकार: made / formed
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मतिम्: a plan / thought
• मतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमाम्: excellent
• उत्तमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण मतिम्

Context

Coming to know that the seven sons of the ministers were slain by the great vanara, Ravana, who had concealed his feelings of agony thought of a good plan.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Strategic self-control: governance and conflict demand restraint and clear counsel; emotion must not override prudent decision-making.

What is the narrative situation?

After Hanumān kills prominent rākṣasa youths (ministers’ sons), Rāvaṇa suppresses visible distress and turns to strategy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and calculation (even if used for adharma): the verse highlights controlled outward demeanor and deliberate planning.