Shloka 38

Devanagari script

सत्यं राक्षसराजेन्द्र शृणुष्व वचनं मम।।।।रामदासस्य दूतस्य वानरस्य विशेषतः।

Transliteration

satyaṃ rākṣasarājendra śṛṇuṣva vacanaṃ mama; rāmadāsasya dūtasya vānarasya viśeṣataḥ.

Translation

اے راکشسوں کے سردار! میری سچی بات سن—یہ رام کے داس، اس کے قاصد، اور خصوصاً ایک وانر کی زبان سے ہے۔

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम् (used adverbially), सत्यं = ‘truly’

• राक्षसराजेन्द्र: O lord of demon-kings
• राक्षसराजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + राज + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘राक्षसानां राजः’ + ‘इन्द्र’ (king-lord among demon-kings)

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (शृणु + स्व)

• वचनम्: word/speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रामदासस्य: of Rama's servant
• रामदासस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘रामस्य दासः’ (servant of Rama)

• दूतस्य: of a messenger
• दूतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वानरस्य: of a vanara
• वानरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Context

"O king of demon! listen to the words of truth of the servant of Rama, his messenger and specially a vanara.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Ravana
• Rama

FAQs

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

Satya is the foundation of righteous counsel; a messenger must speak truthfully even in hostile courts.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman formally frames his admonition as truthful diplomatic speech, identifying himself as Rama’s servant and envoy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness combined with humility: Hanuman asserts legitimacy (dūta) while remaining a devoted servant.