Shloka 9

हनूमत्संवादः / Hanuman’s Diplomatic Approach to Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

सिंहविप्रेक्षितौ वीरौ महाबलविक्रमौ।शक्रचापनिभे चापे गृहीत्वा शत्रुसूदनौ।।श्रीमन्तौ रूपसम्पन्नौ वृषभश्रेष्ठविक्रमौ।हस्तिहस्तोपमभुजौ द्युतिमन्तौ नरर्षभौ।।

Transliteration

siṃhaviprekṣitau vīrau mahābalavikramau |

śakracāpanibhe cāpe gṛhītvā śatrusūdanau ||

śrīmantau rūpasampannau vṛṣabhaśreṣṭhavikramau |

hastihastopamabhujau dyutimantau nararṣabhau ||

Translation

Hai dũng sĩ có ánh nhìn như sư tử, sức mạnh và uy dũng phi thường. Tay cầm cung tựa cầu vồng của Đế Thích, như những bậc diệt thù. Rạng rỡ, dung mạo đoan nghiêm, mang khí phách như trâu đực thượng hạng; cánh tay như vòi voi, sáng chói—những bậc nhân kiệt giữa loài người.

Word by Word

• siṃha-viprekṣitau: (two) lion-gazed
• siṃha-viprekṣitau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha + viprekṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सिंहवत् विप्रेक्षितः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• vīrau: (two) heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• mahā-bala-vikramau: (two) of great strength and prowess
• mahā-bala-vikramau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (महच्च बलं विक्रमश्च यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• śakra-cāpa-nibhe: in (a bow) resembling Indra's rainbow
• śakra-cāpa-nibhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakra + cāpa + nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शक्रचापेन निभे), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• cāpe: in the bow
• cāpe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• gṛhītvā: having held
• gṛhītvā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having taken/held’

• śatru-sūdanau: (two) destroyers of enemies
• śatru-sūdanau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatru + sūdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शत्रूणां सूदनौ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• śrīmantau: (two) splendid
• śrīmantau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• rūpa-sampannau: (two) handsome
• rūpa-sampannau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpa + sampanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (रूपेण सम्पन्नौ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• vṛṣabha-śreṣṭha-vikramau: (two) with the prowess of excellent bulls
• vṛṣabha-śreṣṭha-vikramau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣabha + śreṣṭha + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वृषभश्रेष्ठस्य इव विक्रमः यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• hasti-hasta-upama-bhujau: (two) with arms like elephant trunks
• hasti-hasta-upama-bhujau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hasti + hasta + upama + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (हस्तिहस्तोपमौ भुजौ यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• dyutimantau: (two) radiant
• dyutimantau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dyutimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• nara-ṛṣabhau: (two) best of men
• nara-ṛṣabhau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नराणाम् ऋषभौ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Context

'Having the gaze of a lion, both of you are heroic in your stance. As each of you hold a bow resembling the rainbow, you seem to be mighty warriors eager to annihilate the enemies. With the valour of superior bulls and your shoulders resembling elephant's trunks, you look magnificent, handsome and brilliant. (No doubt,) you are the best among the humans.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse reflects kṣātra-dharma: power is meant for protection and the destruction of adharma. True nobility is strength joined to righteous purpose, not mere intimidation.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān describes the unknown pair to Sugrīva, emphasizing their martial signs (bows, heroic bearing), suggesting they are extraordinary and potentially significant allies—or threats—requiring wise engagement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and tejas (radiant moral-spiritual power) are emphasized, implying leadership and capacity to uphold righteousness.