Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 61

रावणभवनपरिक्रमणं हनूमतः शोकविचारश्च

Hanuman’s Circuit of Ravana’s Palace and the Crisis of Deliberation

Devanagari script

स गत्वा मनसा पूर्वमशोकवनिकां शुभाम्।उत्तरं चिन्तयामास वानरो मारुतात्मजः।।।।

Transliteration

sa gatvā manasā pūrvam aśokavanikāṃ śubhām |

uttaraṃ cintayāmāsa vānaro mārutātmajaḥ ||

Translation

ਮਾਰੁਤਾਤਮਜ ਵਾਨਰ ਹਨੁਮਾਨ ਨੇ ਮਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਸ਼ੁਭ ਅਸ਼ੋਕ-ਵਾਟਿਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਕੇ, ਫਿਰ ਅੱਗੇ ਕੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ—ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਮੁੜ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: earlier/first
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• अशोक-वनिकाम्: the Aśoka-grove
• अशोक-वनिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + वनिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (aśokasya vanikā)

• शुभाम्: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अशोकवनिकाम्)

• उत्तरम्: the next step/answer (what to do next)
• उत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चिन्तयामास: began to think/pondered
• चिन्तयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वानरः: the monkey
• वानरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मारुत-आत्मजः: son of the Wind (Hanuman)
• मारुत-आत्मजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mārutasya ātmajaḥ)

Context

Hanuman started thinking again about his task after reaching the auspicious Ashoka grove.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman (Mārutātmaja)
• Aśoka-vānikā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes thoughtful deliberation: right action is preceded by right thinking, especially when the goal is protection of the innocent and service to truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Approaching Aśoka-vāṭikā, Hanuman pauses internally to plan the next steps of the search and rescue mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Foresight and self-control—he does not rush; he plans.