Shloka 4

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

दुर्गे विनाशिते कर्म भवेत्सुखपरिश्रमम्।अल्पयत्नेन कार्येऽस्मिन् मम स्यात्सफलश्श्रमः।।।।

Transliteration

durge vināśite karma bhavet sukha-pariśramam |

alpa-yatnena kārye ’smin mama syāt saphalaḥ śramaḥ ||

Translation

Wenn die Festung zerstört ist, wird meine Arbeit in glücklicher Erfüllung enden. Bei dieser Aufgabe wird meine Anstrengung mit nur geringem Aufwand erfolgreich sein.

Word by Word

• दुर्गे: when/if the fortress (is)
• दुर्गे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दुर्गम्), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी प्रयोग (locative absolute)

• विनाशिते: destroyed
• विनाशिते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (वि+), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी

• कर्म: the undertaking/labour
• कर्म: कर्ता (Karta; grammatical subject of ‘भवेत्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुखपरिश्रमम्: easy/pleasant effort
• सुखपरिश्रमम्: विधेय (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख+परिश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सुखः परिश्रमः यस्य/यत् (pleasant/easy toil)

• अल्पयत्नेन: with little effort
• अल्पयत्नेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प+यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: अल्पः यत्नः (small effort)

• कार्ये: in the task
• कार्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; qualifier of ‘कार्ये’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सफलः: successful
• सफलः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of ‘श्रमः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रमः: effort/toil
• श्रमः: कर्ता (Karta; subject of ‘स्यात्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

'If the citadel is destroyed it would be a happy conclusion with a little effort. I can successfully complete my task.

FAQs

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

Dharma here is duty-oriented action: Hanumān evaluates means to complete a righteous mission efficiently, aiming at success in service of truth (Satya) and Rāma’s cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Before or during the escalation of destruction, Hanumān reflects that ruining the enemy’s stronghold will help conclude his mission effectively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtya-niścaya (firm resolve in duty) and buddhi (strategic intelligence) are emphasized in Hanumān’s self-directed planning.