Shloka 11

हनूमत्संवादः / Hanuman’s Diplomatic Approach to Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

प्रभया पर्वतेन्द्रोऽयं युवयोरवभासितः।राज्यार्हावमरप्रख्यौ कथं देशमिहागतौ।।

Transliteration

prabhayā parvatendro 'yaṃ yuvayor avabhāsitaḥ |

rājyārhāv amaraprakhyau kathaṃ deśam ihāgatau || 4.3.11 ||

Translation

«Este señor de las montañas resplandece con vuestro fulgor. Parecéis dioses y sois dignos de reinar; ¿cómo, pues, habéis llegado a este yermo?»

Word by Word

• prabhayā: by (your) radiance
• prabhayā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/तृतीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• parvata-indraḥ: the lord of mountains
• parvata-indraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa samāsa: parvatānām indraḥ (lord of mountains); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun/सर्वनाम), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• yuvayoḥ: of you two
• yuvayoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Dvivacana

• avabhāsitaḥ: illuminated, made to shine
• avabhāsitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√bhās (धातु) + -ita (कृदन्त; past passive participle)
• Form: Kṛdanta (PPP/क्त): avabhāsita; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with parvatendraḥ

• rājya-arhau: worthy of sovereignty (two)
• rājya-arhau: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: rājyaṃ arhataḥ (worthy of kingship); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• amara-prakhyau: godlike (two)
• amara-prakhyau: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: amareṣu prakhyau / amaravat prakhyau (like immortals); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• katham: how?
• katham: Prayojaka (Interrogative modifier/प्रश्न-विशेषक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय), interrogative adverb (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय)

• deśam: to this place/region
• deśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (Locative sense/अधिकरणार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• āgatau: (you two) have come
• āgatau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + -ta (कृदन्त; past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: Kṛdanta (PPP/क्त) used predicatively; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; (finite sense: 'have come')

Context

'You are young and radiant like the gods. This king of mountains (Rishyamuka) dazzles with your brilliance. Although you deserve to be sovereigns, how is it that you are here (into the forest)?

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Ṛṣyamūka (implied by context: mountain)

FAQs

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

Dharma values rightful station and moral order: those fit to protect society (rājadharma) appearing in hardship prompts inquiry into the ethical cause—often exile undertaken for truth and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān, assessing the strangers’ nobility, asks why such kingly figures are present in a forested region.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s perceptiveness and respectful curiosity—he asks without accusation, seeking the truth behind appearances.