Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 43

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā

Devanagari script

ततो वै भृशसंविग्ना लङ्का सा गद्गदाक्षरम्।।।।उवाचागर्वितं वाक्यं हनूमन्तं प्लवङ्गमम्।

Transliteration

tato vai bhṛśasaṃvignā laṅkā sā gadgadākṣaram || uvācāgarvitaṃ vākyaṃ hanūmantaṃ plavaṅgamam |

Translation

ແລ້ວນະ ລັງກາເອງ—ສັ່ນສະເທືອນຢ່າງແຮງ ສຽງກໍຕິດຂັດສັ່ນເທືອນ ແລະຄວາມຍິ່ງທະນົງຖືກກົດລົງ—ໄດ້ກ່າວຖ້ອຍຄໍານີ້ແກ່ຮນຸມານ ວານອນວີຣະບຸຣຸດ.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time/sequence

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/emphasis (निपात)

• bhṛśa-saṃvignā: greatly agitated
• bhṛśa-saṃvignā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa (अव्यय) + saṃvigna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Ekavacana (एकवचन); adjective qualifying laṅkā; compound: karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘greatly + agitated’

• laṅkā: Lanka (the city/deity)
• laṅkā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• sā: she/that (Lanka)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• gadgada-akṣaram: with choked syllables/voice
• gadgada-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadgada (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया) Ekavacana; adjective used adverbially qualifying vākyaṃ/uvāca; compound karmadhāraya ‘choked + syllables/words’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष) Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• agarvitam: unproud/without arrogance
• agarvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-garvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; adjective qualifying vākyaṃ; a- (नञ्) negation

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• hanūmantam: to Hanuman
• hanūmantam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanūmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• plavaṅgamam: the monkey
• plavaṅgamam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; apposition to hanūmantam

Context

Thereafter, the deflated demoness of Lanka with an agitated voice, said to Hanuman, the monkey-hero:

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

The verse highlights humility as a dharmic pivot: when confronted by rightful strength aligned with a higher purpose, arrogance collapses and truthful speech becomes possible.

What is the narrative situation?

After being overpowered by Hanumān, the personified deity/guardian of Laṅkā becomes frightened and humbled, and begins speaking to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s controlled power (śakti with maryādā) is implied—his might humbles opposition without needless cruelty, creating space for truth to be spoken.