Shloka 5.41.5

प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden (Ashoka Vatika)

Devanagari script

कार्ये कर्मणि निर्दिष्टे यो बहून्यपि साधयेत्।पूर्वकार्याविरोधेन स कार्यं कर्तुमर्हति।।।।

Transliteration

kārye karmaṇi nirdiṣṭe yo bahūny api sādhayet |

pūrvakāryāvirodhena sa kāryaṃ kartum arhati ||

Translation

When a duty has been assigned, the one who can accomplish even many additional aims—without obstructing the original objective—is truly fit to act.

Context

'He, who can perform tasks in addition to the objective accomplished without affecting it, is really worthy.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma is intelligent duty-fulfilment: one should keep the primary obligation intact while skillfully achieving secondary goods that support the righteous goal.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān weighs how to act in Laṅkā so that any additional actions (like testing enemy strength) do not compromise his main mission of serving Rāma and Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competent stewardship (dakṣatā): the ability to expand outcomes without betraying the entrusted purpose.