Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 18

औषधिपर्वताहरणम् / The Retrieval of the Herb

Bearing Mountain

Devanagari script

अञ्जनासुप्रजायेनमातरिश्वा च नैरृत ।हनुमान् वानरश्रेष्ठःप्राणान् धारयतेक्वचित् ।।6.74.18।।

Transliteration

añjanāsu-prajāyena mātariśvā ca nairṛta |

hanumān vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ prāṇān dhārayate kvacit ||6.74.18||

Translation

“O rākṣasa—does Hanumān, the best of vānaras, still sustain his life?—he by whose birth Añjanā and (the Wind-god) Mātariśvan are blessed with good offspring.”

Word by Word

• अञ्जनासुप्रजायेन: by Anjana and Suprija (as parents)
• अञ्जनासुप्रजायेन: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जना-सुप्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (अञ्जना च सुप्रजा च) — समाहार/युगल-निर्देशः

• मातरिश्वा: Matarishvan (Vayu)
• मातरिश्वा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातरिश्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (Conjunction)

• नैरृत: O Rakshasa
• नैरृत: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• हनुमान्: Hanuman
• हनुमान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वानरश्रेष्ठः: best of monkeys
• वानरश्रेष्ठः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर-श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वानराणां श्रेष्ठः)

• प्राणान्: life-breaths
• प्राणान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• धारयते: sustains / remains alive
• धारयते: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्वचित्: somehow / at least
• क्वचित्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

Context

After hearing Jambavantha, Vibheeshana said "Noble son, why are you enquiring about Hanuman?"

Characters & Entities

• Jāmbavān
• Hanumān
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Añjanā
• Mātariśvan (Vāyu)

FAQs

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

Dharma values gratitude and care for those who uphold the common good; Jāmbavān’s first concern is the welfare of a key protector of the righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Wounded and nearly blind, Jāmbavān anxiously asks Vibhīṣaṇa whether Hanumān is still alive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyal affection and discernment—Jāmbavān prioritizes news of Hanumān, a decisive agent in Rāma’s mission.