Shloka 12

अङ्गद

उपदेशः — Hanuman’s Counsel to Angada on Succession and Strategy

Devanagari script

विगृह्यासनमप्याहुर्दुर्बलेन बलीयसः।आत्मरक्षाकरस्तस्मान्न विगृह्णीत दुर्बलः।।।।

Transliteration

vigṛhyāsanam apy āhur durbalena balīyasaḥ |

ātmarakṣākaraḥ tasmān na vigṛhṇīta durbalaḥ || 4.54.12 ||

Translation

کہتے ہیں کہ کمزور کے لیے طاقتور کے مقابل ‘آسن’—یعنی چوکنا ہو کر خاموش رہنا—بھی ایک طرح کی کشمکش ہے؛ اس لیے کمزور کو کھلا جھگڑا نہیں چھیڑنا چاہیے، بلکہ اپنی حفاظت کی راہ اختیار کرنی چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• याम्: which (that)
• याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/conjunction)

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मन्यसे: you think/consider
• मन्यसे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• धात्रीम्: the earth
• धात्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as demonstrative with ‘bilam’

• बिलम्: cave
• बिलम्: Pratijñā/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• इति: thus/as
• इति: Iti-marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/quotative particle)

• श्रुतम्: is heard/known
• श्रुतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is heard/known’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma/Topic (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; refers to the act of splitting

• लक्ष्मणबाणानाम्: of Lakṣmaṇa's arrows
• लक्ष्मणबाणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण-बाण (प्रातिपदिक; लक्ष्मण + बाण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (परिमाण/degree adverb): ‘slightly, a little’

• कार्यम्: a task
• कार्यम्: Pratijñā/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; from √कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• विदारणे: in splitting/breaking
• विदारणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदारण (प्रातिपदिक; from √दॄ/√दृ ‘to split’ + वि-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

Context

'It is said that when a strong man fights a weak one, the weak opponent should adopt the strategy of asana (watching) for self-protection. The weak should not enter into combat with the strong.

Characters & Entities

• āsana (nīti-strategy)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes restraint and wise strategy: when outmatched, one should avoid reckless violence and choose conduct that protects life and future duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada is being cautioned not to adopt a confrontational course when the opposing force (Rāma–Lakṣmaṇa/Sugrīva’s side) is stronger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and humility—recognizing relative strength and choosing measured action rather than pride-driven conflict.