Shloka 4.4.4

हनूमद्-दूत्यम् / Hanuman’s Mediation and Lakshmana’s Appeal to Sugriva

Devanagari script

किमिर्थं त्वं वनं घोरं पम्पाकाननमण्डितम्।आगतस्सानुजो दुर्गं नानाव्याळमृगायुतम्।।

Transliteration

kim arthaṃ tvaṃ vanaṃ ghoraṃ pampākānanamaṇḍitam | āgatas sānujo durgaṃ nānāvyāḷamṛgāyutam ||

Translation

For what purpose have you come—along with your brother—into this dreadful, hard-to-reach forest adorned by the groves of Pampā, crowded with many kinds of serpents and wild beasts?

Context

'Why have you come with your brother to this dreadful, inaccessible forest surrounding Pampa, full of different varieties of serpents and wild animals?'

Characters & Entities

• Pampā (lake/region)
• Rāma (implied addressee)
• Lakṣmaṇa (as brother)

FAQs

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

Responsible inquiry: before forming alliances or offering help, one should ask truthful, safety-oriented questions to understand intent and context.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān approaches the two princes near Pampā and questions their presence in a perilous forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s discernment and protective caution on behalf of Sugrīva.