Shloka 42
लङ्काप्रवेशः
Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā
ततस्तु हनुमान् प्राज्ञस्तां दृष्ट्वा विनिपातिताम्।।।।कृपां चकार तेजस्वी मन्यमानः स्त्रियं तु ताम्।
tatas tu hanumān prājñas tāṃ dṛṣṭvā vinipātitām | kṛpāṃ cakāra tejasvī manyamānaḥ striyaṃ tu tām ||
ततः प्राज्ञस्तेजस्वी हनुमान् तां विनिपातितां दृष्ट्वा, स्त्रीत्वं मन्यमानः कृपां चकार॥
Wise and brilliant Hanuman, seeing the deity fallen down, left her (without killing her) out of compassion, thinking that she is a woman, after all.
FAQs
Dharma culminates in compassion and restraint after victory: power is governed by mercy, and anger is subordinated to ethical reflection.
After defeating the guardian, Hanumān refrains from further harm and chooses compassion.
Kṛpā (compassion) and kṣamā (forbearance): he does not exploit his advantage once the opponent is down.