Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 3

प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden

Ashoka Vatika

Devanagari script

न साम रक्षस्सु गुणाय कल्पते न दानमर्थोपचितेषु युज्यते।न भेदसाध्या बलदर्पिता जनाः पराक्रमस्त्वेव ममेह रोचते।।।।

Transliteration

na sāma rakṣassu guṇāya kalpate na dānam arthopaciteṣu yujyate |

na bhedasādhyā baladarpitā janāḥ parākramas tv eva mam eha rocate ||

Translation

กับพวกรากษส สา มะ—การเกลี้ยกล่อมประนีประนอม—ไม่ก่อคุณประโยชน์ และทาน—การให้ของ—ก็ไม่เหมาะแก่ผู้ที่มั่งคั่งล้นเหลือ ผู้คนที่เมามัวด้วยกำลังย่อมไม่ยอมด้วยการแตกแยกเช่นกัน ที่นี่ข้าพเจ้าพอใจแต่ปรากรมะ คือความกล้าหาญเท่านั้น

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्धः (निषेध-प्रयोगः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negative particle)

• साम: conciliation, negotiation
• साम: कर्तृ/कर्म (वाक्ये विषयः—'साम' इति उपायः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• रक्षस्सु: among demons
• रक्षस्सु: अधिकरणम् (locative: among/with respect to demons)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी बहुवचनम् (masculine, locative plural)

• गुणाय: for merit, for good effect
• गुणाय: सम्प्रदानम् (dative: for benefit/for merit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, चतुर्थी एकवचनम् (masculine, dative singular)

• कल्पते: is suitable / leads to
• कल्पते: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातुः)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमानकालः), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम् (present, 3rd sg, middle)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्धः (निषेध-प्रयोगः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negative particle)

• दानम्: gift, giving
• दानम्: कर्तृ/कर्म (वाक्ये विषयः—'दानम्')
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• अर्थोपचितेषु: among those enriched with wealth
• अर्थोपचितेषु: अधिकरणम् (locative: in/among the wealthy)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ + उपचित (कृदन्तः; उप + चि धातुः, क्त-प्रत्ययः) (समासः)
• Form: समासः: अर्थ-उपचित (अर्थेन उपचितः = wealth-accumulated); विशेषणम्। पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी बहुवचनम् (locative plural; qualifying 'persons/places' understood)

• युज्यते: is proper / is fitting
• युज्यते: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातुः)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमानकालः), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम् (present, 3rd sg, middle; passive-like sense 'is appropriate')

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्धः (निषेध-प्रयोगः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (निषेध-अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negative particle)

• भेदसाध्याः: amenable to being split (by dissension)
• भेदसाध्याः: कर्तृविशेषणम् (qualifier of subject 'जनाः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भेद + साध्य (कृदन्तः; साध् धातुः, यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययः) (समासः)
• Form: समासः: भेदेन साध्याः (dissension-achievable/amenable to division); विशेषणम्। पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (masculine, nominative plural)

• बलदर्पिताः: proud of strength
• बलदर्पिताः: कर्तृविशेषणम् (qualifier of subject 'जनाः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + दर्पित (कृदन्तः; दर्प् धातुः, क्त-प्रत्ययः) (समासः)
• Form: समासः: बलेन दर्पिताः (proud due to strength); विशेषणम्। पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (masculine, nominative plural)

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (masculine, nominative plural)

• पराक्रमः: valour, prowess
• पराक्रमः: कर्ता (subject of 'रोचते')
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (masculine, nominative singular)

• तु: but, however
• तु: सम्बन्धः (वाक्य-सम्बन्धकः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्, विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपातः (particle: but/indeed)

• एव: only, indeed
• एव: सम्बन्धः (अवधारणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्, अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (particle of emphasis: only/indeed)

• मम: my / to me
• मम: सम्बन्धः (genitive: of me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी एकवचनम् (pronoun, genitive singular)

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरणम् (adverbial locus: here/in this matter)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place: here)

• रोचते: pleases, is agreeable
• रोचते: क्रिया (main verb); सम्प्रदानम्/अनुभवकर्ता: 'मम' (to me it pleases)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातुः)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमानकालः), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम् (present, 3rd sg, middle)

Context

'With demons, negotiation is of no use. They are wealthy, they need no gifts. Proud of their stregth, the demons will not yield to dissension. I think only by using power it can be done.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasas (demons)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is pragmatic righteousness: when peaceful means (conciliation, gifts, division) cannot restrain adharma-driven aggressors, protective force used with right intent becomes the appropriate instrument.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān, in Laṅkā after locating Sītā, reflects on how to proceed; he concludes that the rākṣasas will not be swayed by diplomacy and that strength will be required.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic discernment (viveka) joined with courage (vīrya): Hanumān judges which means are effective and accepts the duty of force when needed.