Shloka 5.2.29

लङ्कादर्शनं तथा रात्रौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण प्रवेशोपायचिन्तनम् (Vision of Lanka and Strategy for Nocturnal Entry)

Devanagari script

अवकाशो नसान्त्वस्य राक्षसेष्वभिगम्यते।न दानस्य न भेदस्य नैव युद्धस्य दृश्यते।।।।

Transliteration

avakāśo na sāntvasya rākṣaseṣv abhigamyate | na dānasya na bhedasya naiva yuddhasya dṛśyate ||

Translation

Among the rākṣasas no opening appears for conciliation—nor for winning them by gifts, nor for splitting them by dissension; and even war seems to offer no clear path.

Context

'There is no scope for reconciliation with the demons. It is not possible to win over them with gifts. They cannot be divided by dissension. There is no scope for war.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasāḥ (demons)

FAQs

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

Dharma uses appropriate upāyas (means): when standard approaches (conciliation, gifts, division, force) fail, one must seek a subtler, less destructive method aligned with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman evaluates classical political strategies (sāma, dāna, bheda, daṇḍa) and finds none readily workable against the rākṣasas in Lanka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic intelligence (nīti) guided by restraint—he searches for a path that serves Sita’s recovery and Rama’s dharmic mission.