Shloka 5.46.39

षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः — Ravana Deploys Five Generals; Hanuman Destroys the Commanders and the Remaining Host

Devanagari script

ततः कपिस्तान्ध्वजिनीपतीन् रणे निहत्य वीरान्सबलान्सवाहनान्।समीक्ष्य वीरः परिगृह्य तोरणं कृतक्षणः काल इव प्रजाक्षये।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ kapis tān dhvajinīpatīn raṇe nihatya vīrān sabalān savāhanān |

samīkṣya vīraḥ parigṛhya toraṇaṃ kṛtakṣaṇaḥ kāla iva prajākṣaye ||

Translation

Then the heroic monkey, having slain those bannered commanders in battle—together with their troops and conveyances—surveyed the field, seized the gateway-arch again, and stood ready like Time itself when it turns toward the destruction of beings.

Context

Then the heroic monkey having killed the army generals and their army and destroyed their vehicles in war came back to the archway after reviewing and stood like the time-spirit bent upon the destruction of humanity.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ṣaṭcatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortysixth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• dhvajinīpati (army commanders)
• toraṇa (gateway-arch)
• Kāla (Time, personified)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as inexorable consequence: when adharma persists, corrective force can appear ‘like Time’—impersonal, unstoppable, and directed at ending harm.

What is the narrative situation?

After killing the commanders and wrecking their forces and vehicles, Hanumān returns to the gateway-arch, assesses the situation, and stands poised for further action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vigilance and readiness (apramāda): he reviews the field and reclaims a strategic position.