Shloka 37

हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः

Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath

Devanagari script

स्वानि मित्राणि मन्त्रींश्च ज्ञातीन् भ्रात्रून् सुतान् हितान्।।।।भोगान्दारांश्च लङ्कां च मा विनाशमुपानय।

Transliteration

svāni mitrāṇi mantrīṃś ca jñātīn bhrātrūn sutān hitān; bhogān dārāṃś ca laṅkāṃ ca mā vināśam upānaya.

Translation

Führe nicht ins Verderben deine eigenen Freunde, Minister, Verwandten, Brüder, Söhne und Wohlgesinnten—auch nicht deine Genüsse, deine Frauen und selbst Laṅkā.

Word by Word

• स्वानि: your/one's own
• स्वानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मित्राणि: friends
• मित्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मन्त्रीन्: ministers
• मन्त्रीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ज्ञातीन्: kinsmen/relatives
• ज्ञातीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• भ्रात्रून्: brothers
• भ्रात्रून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• हितान्: well-wishers
• हितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘हित’ = well-wisher/benefactor (substantive use)

• भोगान्: enjoyments/pleasures
• भोगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दारान्: wives
• दारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle used with imperative)

• विनाशम्: destruction
• विनाशम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपानय: lead/bring (to)
• उपानय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उप-उपसर्ग (towards)

Context

"Do not pave the path of your friends, ministers, clan, brothers and sisters, sons, well-wishers, wives and luxuries and Lanka to destruction.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Ravana
• Lanka

FAQs

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

A ruler’s adharma destroys not only himself but dependents and the entire realm; dharma in kingship is protection of all.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman appeals to Ravana’s sense of responsibility, warning that his choices will annihilate family, ministers, and the city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Concern for loka-kṣema (public welfare): even as an enemy, Hanuman speaks for the prevention of needless ruin.