Shloka 6

रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता

Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman

Devanagari script

मत्पुरीमप्रधृष्यां वाऽगमने किं प्रयोजनम्।आयोधने वा किं कार्यं पृच्छयतामेष दुर्मतिः।।।।

Transliteration

matpurīm apradhṛṣyāṃ vā ’gamane kiṃ prayोजनam |

āyodhane vā kiṃ kāryaṃ pṛcchayatām eṣa durmatiḥ ||

Translation

“Hãy hỏi kẻ ngu muội này: vào thành trì bất khả xâm phạm của ta, hắn đến để làm gì? Và khi khơi dậy chiến trận, hắn nhắm mục đích gì?”

Word by Word

• matpurīm: my city
• matpurīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad + purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मम पुरी)

• apradhṛṣyām: inviolable
• apradhṛṣyām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apradhṛṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण (inviolable)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• āgamane: in coming/arrival
• āgamane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• kim: what
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• prayojanam: purpose
• prayojanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āyodhane: in battle
• āyodhane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyodhana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• kim: what
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• kāryam: task/need
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pṛcchyatām: let (him) be asked
• pṛcchyatām: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• durmatiḥ: evil-minded one
• durmatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durmati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (दुरा + मतिः)

Context

"Enquire why this wicked one entered this inviolable city and for what purpose did he wage a war"

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Prahasta
• Hanumān
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Dharma-oriented judgment distinguishes between mere trespass and deliberate aggression by clarifying intent and objective.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa frames specific questions for interrogation: why the intruder entered Laṅkā and why he fought.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic clarity in leadership—defining the questions that uncover truth and threat level.