Shloka 2

प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden

Ashoka Vatika

Devanagari script

अल्पशेषमिदं कार्यं दृष्टेयमसितेक्षणा।त्रीनुपायानतिक्रम्य चतुर्थ: इह विद्यते।।5.41.2।।

Transliteration

alpaśeṣam idaṃ kāryaṃ dṛṣṭeyam asitekṣaṇā |

trīn upāyān atikramya caturthaḥ iha vidyate ||

Translation

此事所余无多：那位黑眸的圣女已得一见。既已越过三种权宜之策，此处唯余第四法——以武力惩治。

Word by Word

• अल्पशेषम्: having little remaining; little left
• अल्पशेषम्: कर्म (object-complement to implied 'is/exists')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular); विशेषणम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (determiner of 'कार्यं')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular); विशेषणम्

• कार्यम्: task; work to be done
• कार्यम्: कर्म/विषय (thing to be done; subject-matter)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular)

• दृष्टेयम्: to be seen; must be seen
• दृष्टेयम्: विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective of 'कार्यं')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रष्टव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दृश् (धातु) + तव्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular); विधेय-विशेषणम्; ‘to be seen/should be seen’ (gerundive)

• असितेक्षणा: O black-eyed lady (Sita)
• असितेक्षणा: सम्बोधन/कर्ता (addressing the black-eyed lady)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असिता + ईक्षणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (feminine nominative singular); संबोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते (used as address/name)

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: कर्म (object of 'अतिक्रम्य')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्यावाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (masculine accusative plural); विशेषणम्

• उपायान्: means; strategies; expedients
• उपायान्: कर्म (object of 'अतिक्रम्य')
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (masculine accusative plural)

• अतिक्रम्य: having bypassed; having overstepped
• अतिक्रम्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (having passed over)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति + क्रम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (gerund/absolutive); क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial to 'विद्यते')

• चतुर्थः: the fourth (expedient)
• चतुर्थः: कर्ता (subject of 'विद्यते')
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine nominative singular)

• इह: here; in this matter
• इह: अधिकरण (location/context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb)

• विद्यते: exists; is found; remains
• विद्यते: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु) (सत्तायाम्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

Context

'I will fight with the ogres sent by Ravana, endowed with fierce strength and irresistible valour. After destroying their army I will go to the abode of vanaras happily'.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (asitekṣaṇā)
• daṇḍa (punitive force implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is goal-oriented righteousness: once peaceful and diplomatic means are no longer applicable, force (daṇḍa) may be used to protect the innocent and complete a just mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān has already located Sītā in Laṅkā; he now considers the remaining steps, concluding that confrontation with rākṣasa forces is inevitable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pragmatic courage guided by dharma—Hanumān’s resolve to act decisively, but only after other means are implicitly considered complete.