Shloka 4

प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden

Ashoka Vatika

Devanagari script

न चास्य कार्यस्य पराक्रमादृते विनिश्चयः कश्चिदिहोपपद्यते।हतप्रवीरा हि रणे हि राक्षसाः कथञ्चिदीयुर्यदिहाद्य मार्दवम्।।।।

Transliteration

na cāsya kāryasya parākramād ṛte viniścayaḥ kaścid ihopapadyate |

hatapravīrā hi raṇe hi rākṣasāḥ kathañcid īyur yad ihādya mārdavam ||

Translation

而此事之成，除英勇之力外，别无可靠的定断。若在战场上击倒罗刹的几位勇将，他们或许今日便会软化，变得可驯。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negative particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• asya: of this / his
• asya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्) सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे (Genitive singular, masc./neut. pronoun)

• kāryasya: of the task / affair
• kāryasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (कार्य) प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (Genitive singular, neuter)

• parākramāt: from/without valor, power
• parākramāt: Apādāna (source/without-from; with ṛte)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parākrama (पराक्रम) प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम् (Ablative singular, masculine)

• ṛte: except / without
• ṛte: Apavāda (exception/without)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ṛte (ऋते)
• Form: अपवादार्थक-अव्ययम्; पञ्चम्यर्थे (indeclinable meaning 'except/without', governing ablative)

• viniścayaḥ: a decision / certainty
• viniścayaḥ: Kartṛ (subject of upapadyate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viniścaya (विनिश्चय) प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम् (Nominative singular, masculine)

• kaścit: any / even one
• kaścit: Viśeṣaṇa (qualifier of viniścayaḥ: 'any')
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaścid (कश्चिद्) सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम् (Nominative singular, masculine; indefinite pronoun)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (location/context adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (इह)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• upapadyate: is possible / holds good
• upapadyate: Kriyā (verbal action: 'is possible/holds')
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa√pad (उप + √पद्) धातुः
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम् (Present indicative, 3rd person singular, Ātmanepada)

• hata: slain
• hata: Viśeṣaṇa (qualifier within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (√हन्) धातुः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तम् (kta participle)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययः; समासाङ्गत्वेन (past passive participle: 'slain')

• pravīrāḥ: heroes / champions
• pravīrāḥ: Kartṛ (subject; with rākṣasāḥ via apposition/qualification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravīra (प्रवीर) प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम् (Nominative plural, masculine)

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: Hetu-dyotaka (reason/emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्ययम् (particle: for/indeed)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (location: in battle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (रण) प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम् (Locative singular, masculine)

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: Hetu-dyotaka (reason/emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्ययम् (particle: for/indeed)

• rākṣasāḥ: rākṣasas / demons
• rākṣasāḥ: Kartṛ (subject of īyuḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (राक्षस) प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम् (Nominative plural, masculine)

• kathañcit: somehow
• kathañcit: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcit (कथञ्चित्)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: somehow/by any means)

• īyuḥ: would go / would yield (come to)
• īyuḥ: Kriyā (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (इ) धातुः
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम् (Perfect, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada; sense: 'would go/come to')

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (object of īyuḥ: 'that')
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्) सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (Accusative singular, neuter; relative pronoun)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (location/context adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (इह)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• adya: today / now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अद्य)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of time)

• mārdavam: softness / gentleness
• mārdavam: Karma (object/apposition to yat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārdava (मार्दव) प्रातिपदिकम्
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (Accusative singular, neuter)

Context

'Other than power, there is no way to accomplish the task of ascertaining their strength. If I slay a few strong ogres somehow they may soften a little and yield.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasas (demons)

FAQs

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

Dharma recognizes proportional force: when opponents are hardened in wrongdoing, decisive action that reduces their capacity for harm can restore moral order and open the possibility of restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān considers that to assess and influence Laṅkā’s hostile forces, he may need to engage them in combat and test their resistance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve (niścaya) and responsibility: Hanumān is willing to bear the burden of conflict to protect Rāma’s mission.