Shloka 5

हनूमत्संवादः / Hanuman’s Diplomatic Approach to Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ तापसौ संशितव्रतौ।देशं कथमिमं प्राप्तौ भवन्तौ वरवर्णिनौ।।त्रासयन्तौ मृगगणानन्यांश्च वनचारिणः।।

Transliteration

rājarṣidevapratimau tāpasau saṃśitavratau |

deśaṃ katham imaṃ prāptau bhavantau varavarṇinau ||

trāsayantau mṛgagaṇān anyāṃś ca vanacāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

お二人は麗しき姿にして、王仙や神々にも似たる、誓戒堅固な修行者。いかにしてこの地に来られたのか。まるで鹿の群れや他の森の住人をも畏れさせるかのように。

Word by Word

• राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ: like royal sages and gods (both)
• राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājarṣi-deva-pratima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nom du); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘राजर्षिभिः देवैश्च प्रतिमौ’ (like royal sages and gods)

• तापसौ: two ascetics
• तापसौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nom du)

• संशितव्रतौ: of strict vows (both)
• संशितव्रतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃśita-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nom du); कर्मधारयः ‘संशितं व्रतम्’ (strict vows)

• देशम्: place/region
• देशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); विशेषणम् (qualifying देशम्)

• प्राप्तौ: arrived
• प्राप्तौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nom du) ‘having come/arrived’

• भवन्तौ: you two
• भवन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nom du); आदरार्थे द्वितीयपुरुष-संबोधनार्थकः (polite ‘you two’)

• वरवर्णिनौ: of excellent complexion (both)
• वरवर्णिनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara-varṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nom du); कर्मधारयः ‘वरः वर्णः यस्य’

• त्रासयन्तौ: frightening
• त्रासयन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रस् (धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nom du)

• मृगगणान्: herds of deer/animals
• मृगगणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga-gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc pl); तत्पुरुषः ‘मृगाणां गणाः’

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc pl); विशेषणम् (qualifying वनचारिणः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• वनचारिणः: forest-dwellers/creatures roaming the forest
• वनचारिणः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana-cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc pl); तत्पुरुषः ‘वने चरन्ति’

Context

'You both fair in complexion, resemble royal sages or gods. You appear like ascetics and pursue vows in austerity. How come, you are present here, as if to frighten the animals and other creatures roaming this forest?

Characters & Entities

• rājarṣi (royal sage)
• deva (gods)
• forest-dwellers (vanacāriṇaḥ)

FAQs

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

Responsible inquiry: dharma permits questioning strangers for safety, but it should be framed respectfully and truth-seeking, not accusatory.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman, sent by Sugriva, assesses the newcomers’ identity and purpose, noting their ascetic appearance and the fear their presence causes among animals.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence with courtesy—Hanuman’s careful investigation combined with honoring the apparent sanctity and dignity of the two strangers.