Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 31

हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः

Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath

Devanagari script

कामं खल्वहमप्येकस्सवाजिरथकुञ्जराम्।।।।लङ्कां नाशयितुं शक्तस्तस्यैष तु न निश्चयः।

Transliteration

kāmaṃ khalv aham apy ekaḥ savājirathakuñjarāṃ laṅkāṃ nāśayituṃ śaktaḥ; tasyaiṣa tu na niścayaḥ.

Translation

കുതിരകളും രഥങ്ങളും ഗജങ്ങളും നിറഞ്ഞ ലങ്കയെ ഞാൻ ഒരുത്തൻ മാത്രം തന്നെയും നശിപ്പിക്കാൻ തീർച്ചയായും ശേഷിയുള്ളവൻ; എങ്കിലും അതാണ് എന്റെ നിശ്ചയം അല്ല, എനിക്കതിന് ആജ്ഞയുമില്ല.

Word by Word

• कामम्: indeed/granted
• कामम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुमत्यर्थ/स्वीकारार्थ-निपात (indeed/granted)

• खलु: surely
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुषार्थ (1st person pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण

• सवाजिरथकुञ्जराम्: with horses, chariots, and elephants
• सवाजिरथकुञ्जराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + वाजि + रथ + कुञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण; उपपद-समासवत् 'स-' = सहित; अर्थ: वाजिरथकुञ्जरैः सह युक्ताम्

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• नाशयितुम्: to destroy
• नाशयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश्/नाशय (धातु-णिच्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): नाशयितुम् = to cause to perish/destroy

• शक्तः: capable
• शक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (capable)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (m./n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोध-निपात

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• निश्चयः: decision/resolution
• निश्चयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

Context

" Alone, I can destroy this entire Lanka teeming with horses, chariots and elephants. Indeed I have the energy but not the mandate of Sri Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Lanka
• Rama
• Ravana

FAQs

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

Strength must be governed by duty and rightful authorization; even if one can act, dharma requires restraint when the action is not one’s rightful mandate.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman, having met Sita and revealed himself in Lanka, addresses Ravana with a warning—asserting his power but emphasizing he will not exceed Rama’s mission and command.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maryādā (discipline within rightful limits) and self-control: Hanuman subordinates personal capability to Rama’s purpose.