Shloka 5.41.8

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

Devanagari script

कथं नु खल्वद्य भवेत्सुखागतं प्रसह्य युद्धं मम राक्षसैः सह।तथैव खल्वात्मबलं च सारवत्सम्मानयेन्मां च रणे दशाननः।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ nu khalv adya bhavet sukhāgataṃ prasahya yuddhaṃ mama rākṣasaiḥ saha |

tathaiva khalv ātmabalaṃ ca sāravat sammānayen māṃ ca raṇe daśānanaḥ ||

Translation

How indeed can my coming here end today in a safe and happy return, if I must endure war with the rākṣasas? Only thus, in battle, will Daśānana truly measure the substance of his own strength—and mine as well.

Context

'How can I have enduring war with the ogres today? How will my visit to this place end in happy return? Only in a combat this tenheaded Ravana will guage his strength and mine!

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasas
• Daśānana (Rāvaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes fearless truth-testing: arrogance rooted in adharma is corrected only when reality is faced; Hanumān accepts danger so that true strength is revealed.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān anticipates confrontation; he sees that only direct conflict will compel Rāvaṇa to recognize the opponent’s power and take the vānaras seriously.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless initiative: Hanumān is prepared to risk himself to advance the larger righteous cause.