Shloka 6.82.20

इन्द्रजित्-हनूमद्-युद्धं तथा निकुम्भिलायां होमः (Indrajit vs Hanuman; Indrajit’s Nikumbhila rite)

Devanagari script

सनिवार्यपरानीकमब्रवीत्तान्वनौकसः ।।।।हनूमान् सन्निवर्तध्वं न नस्साध्यमिदंबलम् ।

Transliteration

sa nivārya parānīkam abravīt tān vanaukasaḥ | hanūmān sannivartadhvaṃ na naḥ sādhyam idaṃ balam ||

Translation

Having checked the enemy host, Hanumān spoke to the forest-dwellers: “Turn back—at this moment we cannot overcome this army.”

Context

Hanuman made the enemy army retreat, and spoke to his own army," No use of defeating this army for us as our mission is not winning the army."

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Vānaras (vanaukasaḥ)
• Enemy army (parānīka)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes strategic restraint: withdrawing is not cowardice when it prevents pointless loss and serves the higher righteous goal.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān halts the enemy’s immediate pressure and orders his side to regroup/withdraw from an unwinnable engagement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudent leadership—knowing when to fight and when to conserve strength for the true objective.