Shloka 5.30.24

हनुमता सीतासंवादोपायचिन्ता — Hanuman’s Deliberation on How to Address Sita

Devanagari script

गृह्य शाखाः प्रशाखाश्च स्कन्धांश्चोत्तमशाखिनाम्।।।।दृष्ट्वा विपरिधावन्तं भवेयुर्भयशङ्किताः।

Transliteration

gṛhya śākhāḥ praśākhāś ca skandhāṃś cottamaśākhinām | dṛṣṭvā viparidhāvantaṃ bhaveyur bhayaśaṅkitāḥ ||

Translation

Seeing me seize the branches, side-branches, and trunks of lofty trees and dart about, the rākṣasī-guards would grow alarmed, shaken with fear.

Context

"Seeing me holding big and small branches of large trees and leaping from one place to the other, the ogresses will get scared.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• rākṣasī (ogress-guards)
• trees (Aśoka grove context)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is prudent restraint: Hanumān weighs how his own conspicuous actions could provoke fear and escalation, risking harm to the innocent (Sītā) and the mission.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s Aśoka grove, Hanumān considers how moving about visibly—grabbing tree limbs and leaping—would alert the guarding rākṣasīs.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic foresight (nīti) and self-control—acting with awareness of consequences rather than mere strength.