Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 17

हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः

Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath

Devanagari script

भ्रमता च मया दृष्टा गृहे ते जनकात्मजा।।5.51.16।।तद्भवान् दृष्टधर्मार्थस्तपःकृतपरिग्रहः।परदारान् महाप्राज्ञ नोपरोद्धुं त्वमर्हसि।।5.51.17।।

Transliteration

bhramatā ca mayā dṛṣṭā gṛhe te janakātmajā | tad bhavān dṛṣṭadharmārthas tapaḥkṛtaparigrahaḥ | paradārān mahāprājña noparoddhuṃ tvam arhasi ||

Translation

Ketika aku mengembara, aku melihat puteri Janaka di rumahmu. Oleh sebab tuan mengetahui Dharma dan Artha serta diperkukuh oleh tapa, wahai yang bijaksana, janganlah menahan atau menculik isteri orang lain.

Word by Word

• तत्: therefore/so
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे नपुंसक-प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपम्; here = 'therefore/so' (discourse particle)

• भवान्: you (sir)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; honorific 'you'

• दृष्टधर्मार्थः: knower of dharma and artha
• दृष्टधर्मार्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृष्ट (दृश्-क्त, कृदन्त) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: (धर्मार्थौ) इति द्वन्द्व-समाहार/इतरेतरयोग-आधारः, तयोः 'दृष्ट' इति कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्धेन; बहिर्गत-रूपम् पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा-एकवचन; meaning: 'one who has understood dharma and artha'

• तपःकृतपरिग्रहः: whose merit is gained by austerity
• तपःकृतपरिग्रहः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ-क्त, कृदन्त) + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः: तपसा कृतः परिग्रहः यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; 'having acquisitions earned by austerity'

• परदारान्: another man's wives
• परदारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः: परस्य दाराः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• महाप्राज्ञ: O very wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

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

• उपरोद्धुम्: to abduct/hold back
• उपरोद्धुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-रुध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), 'to obstruct/abduct/confine'

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अर्हसि: ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Context

"While I was roaming I saw Janaka's daughter Sita at your house.You are a knower of the truth of righteousness. You are very wise and carrried out great austerities. It does not behove you to abduct another man's wife.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Janakātmajā)
• Janaka

FAQs

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

A ruler’s true dignity is shown by restraint; wisdom and tapas are contradicted by violating another’s marriage.

What is the narrative situation?

This verse repeats the prior admonition (a recensional duplication), reinforcing Hanumān’s moral warning to Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Persistence in satya-upadeśa—reiterating truth for the listener’s welfare.