Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 116, Shloka 45

सीतासान्त्वनम् / Hanuman Consoles Sita with the News of Victory

Devanagari script

न पर: पापमादत्तेपरेषांपापकर्मणाम् ।।6.116.45।।समयोरक्षितव्यस्तुसप्तश्चारित्रभूषणाः ।

Transliteration

na paraḥ pāpam ādatte pareṣāṃ pāpa-karmaṇām | samayo rakṣitavyas tu satpathaś cāritra-bhūṣaṇāḥ || 6.116.45 ||

Translation

Ein Edler nimmt die Sünde nicht auf sich, nur weil andere sündige Taten begehen. Vielmehr soll man zur rechten Zeit die rechte Lebensführung wahren — guter Charakter ist der wahre Schmuck.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• paraḥ: a (good) person / another
• paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular; here 'another person / a noble person' depending on context

• pāpam: sin / wrongdoing
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, accusative singular

• ādatte: takes up / accepts (upon oneself)
• ādatte: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + ā-
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person singular, ātmanepada

• pareṣām: of others
• pareṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, genitive plural

• pāpa-karmaṇām: of sinful deeds
• pāpa-karmaṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, genitive plural; tatpuruṣa 'pāpaṃ karma'

• samayaḥ: proper time / convention
• samayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• rakṣitavyaḥ: is to be protected / observed
• rakṣitavyaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु) + tavya (तव्य)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), masculine nominative singular; agrees with samayaḥ

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• santaḥ: the good (people)
• santaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• cāritra-bhūṣaṇāḥ: having good conduct as an ornament
• cāritra-bhūṣaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāritra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative plural; tatpuruṣa 'cāritraṃ bhūṣaṇam' (good conduct as ornament); qualifies santaḥ

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

One must not mirror another’s wrongdoing; dharma requires protecting one’s own right conduct, especially in moments when retaliation seems tempting.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā instructs Hanumān not to justify harsh acts against the rākṣasīs merely because they behaved cruelly under Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sadācāra (good conduct) and moral independence—choosing right action regardless of others’ behavior.