Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 16

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

हत्त्वा च समरे क्रूरं रावणं सहबान्धवम्।राघवौ त्वां विशालाक्षि स्वां पुरीं प्रापयिष्यतः।।5.40.16।।

Transliteration

hattvā ca samare krūraṃ rāvaṇaṃ sahabāndhavam | rāghavau tvāṃ viśālākṣi svāṃ purīṃ prāpayiṣyataḥ ||

Translation

ഹേ വിശാലാക്ഷീ ദേവി, യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ക്രൂരനായ രാവണനെ അവന്റെ ബന്ധുക്കളോടുകൂടെ വധിച്ച ശേഷം, ആ രണ്ടു രാഘവന്മാർ നിന്നെ നിന്റെ സ്വന്തം നഗരത്തിലേക്ക് തിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുപോകും.

Word by Word

• हत्त्वा: having killed
• हत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having killed’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• क्रूरम्: cruel
• क्रूरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies रावणम्)

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म) (of हत्त्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सहबान्धवम्: together with his kinsmen
• सहबान्धवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सह-तत्पुरुष (बान्धवैः सह) used adjectivally for रावणम्

• राघवौ: the two Raghavas (Rama and Lakshmana)
• राघवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (contextual), द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विशालाक्षि: O large-eyed one
• विशालाक्षि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विशालानि अक्षी यस्याः)

• स्वाम्: their own
• स्वाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies पुरीम्)

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म) (goal as object with causative ‘take’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रापयिष्यतः: will take (you) to
• प्रापयिष्यतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग ‘will cause to reach / will take’

Context

"O large-eyed lady! Killing in war the vile Ravana, the demon king and all his relatives, Rama would take you back to his own city৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Restorative justice: the removal of a tyrant (Rāvaṇa) is presented as necessary to re-establish dharma and reunite the rightful family.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān promises Sītā that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa will defeat Rāvaṇa and return her safely.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective righteousness and steadfast commitment to rescue and reunion.