Shloka 5.51.25

हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः (Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath)

Devanagari script

तपस्सन्तापलब्धस्ते योऽयं धर्मपरिग्रहः।न स नाशयितुं न्याय्य आत्मप्राणपरिग्रहः।।।।

Transliteration

tapassantāpalabdhas te yo 'yaṃ dharmaparigrahaḥ | na sa nāśayituṃ nyāyya ātmaprāṇaparigrahaḥ ||

Translation

This store of dharma you have gained through the burning hardships of austerity—it is not right to destroy it by staking and losing your very life.

Context

"You have acquired the merit of righteousness by prolonged hardships experienced during your penance. It is not proper to forfeit your own life in this way.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Dharma (merit from tapas)

FAQs

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

Merit earned by disciplined practice should not be squandered by a single grave unrighteous act that endangers one’s life and moral standing.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān advises Rāvaṇa that his past tapas has earned him merit, but persisting in Sītā’s captivity will ruin him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ethical reasoning in counsel—Hanumān appeals to Rāvaṇa’s self-interest while grounding it in dharma.