Shloka 15
रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता
Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman
ततस्ते राक्षसाः प्राप्ता बलिनो युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः।रक्षणार्थं तु देहस्य प्रतियुद्धा मया रणे।।।।
tatas te rākṣasāḥ prāptā balino yuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ |
rakṣaṇārthaṃ tu dehasya pratiyuddhā mayā raṇe ||
“मग ते बलवान राक्षस युद्धाची इच्छा धरून आले; आणि देहाच्या रक्षणासाठीच मी रणात त्यांना प्रत्युत्तर देत लढलो.”
"Wishing to see the king I honoured this astra and not otherwise. Even though I was tormented by the ogres and released by the astra I submitted to you as I have a small work assigned by the king.
FAQs
Justified force: violence is framed as defensive (ātma-rakṣā), not aggression—an ethical boundary on the use of strength.
After Hanumān’s provocations, rākṣasa warriors attack him; he explains that his fighting was retaliatory and defensive.
Restraint—Hanumān presents his combat as necessity, not cruelty.