Shloka 8

हनूमता सुग्रीवस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः

Hanuman’s Counsel on Timely Ally-Duty

Devanagari script

समीक्ष्य विमलं व्योम गतविद्युद्वलाहकम्।सारसाकुलसङ्घुष्टं रम्यज्योत्स्नानुलेपनम्4.29.1।।समृद्धार्थं च सुग्रीवं मन्दधर्मार्थसङ्ग्रहम्।अत्यर्थमसतां मार्गमेकान्तगतमानसम्4.29.2।।निर्वृत्तकार्यं सिद्धार्थं प्रमदाभिरतं सदा।प्राप्तवन्तमभिप्रेतान्सर्वानेव मनोरथान्4.29.3।।स्वां च पत्नीमभिप्रेतां तारां चापि समीप्सिताम्।विहरन्तमहोरात्रं कृतार्थं विगतज्वरम्4.29.4।।क्रीडन्तमिव देवेशं नन्दनेऽप्सरसां गणैः।मन्त्रिषु न्यस्तकार्यं च मन्त्रिणामनवेक्षकम्4.29.5।।उत्सन्नराज्यसन्देशं कामवृत्तमवस्थितम्।निश्चितार्थोऽर्थतत्त्वज्ञः कालधर्मविशेषवित्4.29.6।।प्रसाद्य वाक्यैर्मधुरैर्हेतुमद्भिर्मनोरमैः।वाक्यविद्वाक्य तत्त्वज्ञं हरीशं मारुतात्मजः4.29.7।।हितं तत्त्वं च पथ्यं च सामधर्मार्थनीतिमत्।प्रणयप्रीतिसंयुक्तं विश्वासकृतनिश्चयम्।हरीश्वरमुपागम्य हनूमान्वाक्यमब्रवीत्4.29.8।।

Transliteration

hitaṃ tattvaṃ ca pathyaṃ ca sāma-dharma-artha-nītimat |

praṇaya-prīti-saṃyuktaṃ viśvāsa-kṛta-niścayam |

harīśvaram upāgamya hanūmān vākyam abravīt || 4.29.8 ||

Translation

వానరాధీశుడైన సుగ్రీవుని సమీపించి హనుమంతుడు హితకరమైన, సత్యమైన, పథ్యమైన మాటలను పలికెను; అవి సామనీతి, ధర్మమూ అర్థనీతి సూత్రాలతో కూడినవి; స్నేహప్రీతితో నిండినవి, విశ్వాసంతో చెప్పుదామని నిశ్చయించి పలికినవి।

Word by Word

• हितम्: beneficial (thing/statement)
• हितम्: कर्म (object-content of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; √हि/हित = beneficial)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular); विशेष्य-भावे (as a substantive/qualifier of 'vākyam')

• तत्त्वम्: truth; principle
• तत्त्वम्: कर्म (object-content of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• पथ्यम्: wholesome; salutary
• पथ्यम्: कर्म (object-content of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• सामधर्मार्थनीतिमत्: endowed with conciliation, dharma, artha, and policy
• सामधर्मार्थनीतिमत्: कर्म (attribute of object-content)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साम + धर्म + अर्थ + नीति + मत् (प्रातिपदिक; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (determinative compound) + मतुप् (possessing); विशेषणम् (qualifying 'vākyam'/the utterance)

• प्रणयप्रीतिसंयुक्तम्: joined with affection and love
• प्रणयप्रीतिसंयुक्तम्: कर्म (attribute of object-content)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणय + प्रीति + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular); तत्पुरुषसमासः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (past participle used adjectivally)

• विश्वासकृतनिश्चयम्: having a resolve made in confidence (trust-based decision)
• विश्वासकृतनिश्चयम्: कर्म (attribute of object-content)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वास + कृत + निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular); तत्पुरुषसमासः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-विशेषणम्

• हरीश्वरम्: the lord of the monkeys (Sugriva)
• हरीश्वरम्: कर्म (object of 'upāgamya')
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine accusative singular); तत्पुरुषसमासः (harīṇām īśvaraḥ)

• उपागम्य: having approached
• उपागम्य: पूर्वकाल (prior action to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप + आ + √गम् (धातु) → उपागम्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालक्रिया (having approached)

• हनूमान्: Hanuman
• हनूमान्: कर्ता (agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine nominative singular)

• वाक्यम्: speech; words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter accusative singular)

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (he spoke)

Context

Hanuman, son of the Windgod, saw the clear sky flooded with lovely moonlight, free from clouds and lightning and cackling of herons. He noticed that because Sugriva had attained abundant wealth and merit, he was not taking care of the kingdom. He was engrossed in sensual pleasures. Having accomplished the desired object, he was engaged in enjoyment of the company of women, his own wives and Tara, whom he coveted. He was strolling (in the pleasant garden) night and day without caring for the kingdom, entrusting it to the ministers whose movements he did not watch. He was sporting with women like Indra sports with apsaras in the Nandana garden.Hanuman, who was conscious of his duties and responsibilities, who was aware of the importance of action in time and who was skilful in speech approached Sugriva, king of the monkeys. Having decided to take him into confidence, Hanuman spoke in a convincing, wellmeaning, sweet, pleasing manner words truthful and helpful, conciliatory and just, full of love and affection:

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as truth that is also beneficial and timely: counsel should be satya (true), hita (for welfare), and pathya (wholesome), delivered through sāma (conciliation) so that duty is restored without rupture.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān is about to deliver a corrective message to Sugrīva, who has neglected governance; the verse characterizes the tone and ethical quality of Hanumān’s forthcoming speech.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s loyalty and ethical statecraft: he speaks frankly yet lovingly, aiming to rebuild responsibility and trust.