Shloka 18

हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः

Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath

Devanagari script

न हि धर्मविरुद्धेषु बह्वपायेषु कर्मसु।मूलघातिषु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवद्विधाः।।।।

Transliteration

na hi dharmaviruddheṣu bahvapāyeṣu karmasu | mūlaghātiṣu sajjante buddhimanto bhavadvidhāḥ ||

Translation

因为有智慧的人——如你这般——决不会沉溺于违背法（dharma）、充满诸多险患、并从根本上招致毁灭的行为。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• धर्मविरुद्धेषु: in acts opposed to dharma
• धर्मविरुद्धेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विरुद्ध (विरुध्-क्त, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः: धर्मेण विरुद्धः; पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; 'in unrighteous (acts)'

• बह्वपायेषु: in (acts) with many dangers
• बह्वपायेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + अपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः: बहवः अपायाः येषु; पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• कर्मसु: in actions
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• मूलघातिषु: in root-destroying (deeds)
• मूलघातिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + घातिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः: मूलं घातयति इति/मूलस्य घाती; पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• सज्जन्ते: become attached/engage
• सज्जन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सञ्ज्/सज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• बुद्धिमन्तः: wise men
• बुद्धिमन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भवद्विधाः: people like you
• भवद्विधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः: भवत्सदृशाः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

"Indeed, respectable people and wise men like you should not indulge in actions opposed to righteousness as it will strike at the very root of your existence.

Characters & Entities

• Dharma (as principle)

FAQs

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

Adharma is self-destructive: unrighteous acts may appear advantageous but ultimately ruin one’s foundation (mūla).

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān frames his warning as rational counsel: a truly wise king should not cling to ruinous wrongdoing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prājñatā (practical wisdom): the ability to foresee long-term consequences and choose dharma over impulse.