Shloka 8

रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता

Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman

Devanagari script

यदि तावत्त्वमिन्द्रेण प्रेषितो रावणालयम्।तत्त्वमाख्याहि मा भूत्ते भयं वानर मोक्ष्यसे।।।।

Transliteration

yadi tāvat tvam indreṇa preṣito rāvaṇālayam |

tattvam ākhyāhi mā bhūt te bhayaṃ vānara mokṣyase ||

Translation

„Wenn du wahrhaft von Indra in Rāvaṇas Wohnstatt gesandt wurdest, so sprich die Wahrheit. Fürchte dich nicht, o Vānara — du wirst freigelassen.“

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle ‘if’)

• tāvat: then
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तावत्-शब्दः (then/in that case)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• indreṇa: by Indra
• indreṇa: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• preṣitaḥ: sent
• preṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: preṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘sent’

• rāvaṇālayam: to Ravana's abode
• rāvaṇālayam: Karma (कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रावणस्य आलयः)

• tattvam: the truth
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ākhyāhi: tell
• ākhyāhi: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ākhyā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘tell’

• mā: do not
• mā: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक (prohibitive particle)

• bhūt: be
• bhūt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative) / विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य; परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; prohibitive with mā: ‘let there not be’

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘to you/for you’

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of bhūt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vānara: O vanara
• vānara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• mokṣyase: you will be released
• mokṣyase: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘you will be released’

Context

"Have you came to the abode of Ravana sent by Indra? Speak the truth. Be not afraid.You will be released".

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Hanumān
• Indra
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā (implicitly)

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) is explicitly demanded, and fearlessness is encouraged—truth is best elicited without coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta proposes one possibility (Indra’s mission) and asks Hanumān to state the truth, promising release.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to truth in discourse, paired with assurance (abhaya) to the speaker.