Shloka 17

रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता

Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman

Devanagari script

राजानं द्रष्टुकामेन मयास्त्रमनुवर्तितम्।।।।विमुक्तो ह्यहमस्त्रेण राक्षसैस्त्वभिपीडितः।केनचिद्राजकार्येण सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम्।।।।

Transliteration

rājānaṃ draṣṭukāmena mayā astram anuvartitam |

vimukto hy aham astreṇa rākṣasais tv abhipīḍitaḥ |

kenacid rājakāryeṇa samprāpto ’smi tavāntikam ||

Translation

„Da ich den König sehen wollte, fügte ich mich der Macht jener Waffe. Obgleich von den Rākṣasas bedrängt, wurde ich durch das Astra wieder freigegeben; und in einer königlichen Angelegenheit bin ich in deine Gegenwart gelangt.“

Word by Word

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• draṣṭu-kāmena: desiring to see
• draṣṭu-kāmena: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: draṣṭu (कृदन्त; √dṛś tumun) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (desirous to see)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartṛ (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• astram: weapon (astra)
• astram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• anuvartitam: was employed/let act
• anuvartitam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa to context (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√vṛt (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle; Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; agrees with astram; sense: 'followed/allowed to operate/used'

• vimuktaḥ: released
• vimuktaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√muc (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; agrees with aham (released)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (indeed/for)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• astreṇa: by the weapon
• astreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• rākṣasaiḥ: by demons
• rākṣasaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (but/however)

• abhipīḍitaḥ: harassed, oppressed
• abhipīḍitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√pīḍ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; agrees with aham (pressed/harassed)

• kenacit: by some
• kenacit: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; indefinite (by some)

• rāja-kāryeṇa: by a royal mission
• rāja-kāryeṇa: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः (king's business/mission)

• samprāptaḥ: have arrived
• samprāptaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-√āp (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; agrees with aham (having arrived)

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Auxiliary)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tava: your
• tava: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• antikam: near, presence
• antikam: Gati-karma (गति-कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; used with motion verb (to the presence)

Context

Know that I am a messenger of the highly powerful Rama. O lord! please listen to these beneficial words of mine meant for your welfare.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē pañcāśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fiftieth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Astra (weapon power)

FAQs

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

Purposeful restraint: Hanumān accepts temporary limitation (honouring the astra) to fulfill a higher duty—communication on behalf of his king.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān clarifies that his capture was voluntary to gain an audience with Rāvaṇa, because he carries a message tied to royal duty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic self-control—strength is disciplined in service of mission and truth.