Shloka 14

हनूमत्संवादः / Hanuman’s Diplomatic Approach to Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

आयताश्च सुवृत्ताश्च बाहवः परिघोपमाः।सर्वभूषणभूषार्हाः किमर्थं न विभूषिताः।।

Transliteration

āyatāś ca suvṛttāś ca bāhavaḥ parighopamāḥ |

sarvabhūṣaṇa-bhūṣārhāḥ kimarthaṃ na vibhūṣitāḥ || 4.3.14 ||

Translation

آپ کے بازو دراز اور خوش تراش ہیں، گویا لوہے کی سلاخیں؛ ہر زیور کے لائق ہیں—پھر یہ بے آرائش کیوں ہیں؟

Word by Word

• siṃha-skandhau: lion-shouldered (two)
• siṃha-skandhau: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + skandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: siṃhasya skandhau iva (lion-shouldered); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• mahā-utsāhau: of great energy (two)
• mahā-utsāhau: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + utsāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahān utsāhaḥ yasyau (greatly energetic); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• samadau: proud/majestic (two)
• samadau: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (Simile marker/उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle

• go-vṛṣau: like two bulls
• go-vṛṣau: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: gāṃ vṛṣau (bulls among cattle); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; upamāna

Context

'Your long arms and sphere-like shoulders appear as strong as iron clubs. Although they deserve to be decked with ornaments, how is it they are unadorned?

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma can require renunciation of outward splendor: the question highlights the contrast between kingly worthiness and ascetic simplicity—often chosen to uphold truth and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān notes royal signs (strength, form) yet sees no ornaments, prompting him to ask the reason—leading toward the revelation of exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s attentive reasoning—he infers a deeper story behind visible austerity.