Shloka 11

विभीषणोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana

Devanagari script

समुद्रंलङ्घयित्वातुघोरंनदनदीपतिम् ।गतिंहनूमतोलोकेकोविद्यात्तर्कयेतवा ।।।।

Transliteration

samudraṃ laṅghayitvā tu ghoraṃ nadanadīpatim | gatiṃ hanūmato loke ko vidyāt tarkayet vā ||

Translation

Hanumān đã vượt qua đại dương ghê rợn, bậc chúa tể của sông ngòi—trong đời này, ai có thể biết trước, hay dù chỉ tưởng tượng nổi kỳ công ấy?

Word by Word

• समुद्रम्: the ocean
• समुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• लङ्घयित्वा: having crossed
• लङ्घयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); धातु: लङ्घ् (to leap over/cross)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• घोरम्: terrific
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् नदनदीपतिम्/समुद्रम् इति

• नदनदीपतिम्: lord of rivers (the ocean)
• नदनदीपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नद + नदी + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: नदानां नदीनां च पतिः (lord of rivers and streams)

• गतिम्: movement/feat
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हनूमतः: of Hanuman
• हनूमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनूमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• विद्यात्: could know
• विद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तर्कयेत्: could infer/think
• तर्कयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तर्कय् (धातु; √तर्क् caus.)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त (causative)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

Context

"Hanuman has crossed over the ocean, a Lord of streams and rivers and arrived. Who can ever know or think of such a task in this world?"

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Ocean (Samudra)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes intellectual honesty: recognize demonstrated merit and do not dismiss proven capability; arrogance that ignores facts leads to adharma and ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker cites Hanumān’s ocean-leap as concrete proof that Rāma’s side possesses extraordinary power, urging caution in counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s extraordinary vīrya and determination in service of a righteous cause.