Shloka 1

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

ततो रावणनीतायाः सीतायाः शत्रुकर्शनः।इयेष पदमन्वेष्टुं चारणाचरिते पथि।।।।

Transliteration

tato rāvaṇanītāyāḥ sītāyāḥ śatrukarśanaḥ |

iyeṣa padam anveṣṭuṁ cāraṇācarite pathi ||

Translation

Da fasste Hanumān, der Bezwinger der Feinde, den Entschluss, den Aufenthaltsort Sītās zu suchen, die von Rāvaṇa entführt worden war, und zog den Pfad entlang, den die Cāraṇas, die himmlischen Barden, beschreiten.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal/sequential adverb)

• rāvaṇa-nītāyāḥ: of (her) carried off by Ravana
• rāvaṇa-nītāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + nītā (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √nī (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) = ‘रावणेन नीतā’ (carried off by Ravana)

• sītāyāḥ: of Sita
• sītāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (sg.)

• śatru-karśanaḥ: crusher of enemies (Hanuman)
• śatru-karśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + karśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष-समासः (कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः) = ‘शत्रून् कर्षति’ (one who crushes enemies)

• iyeṣa: resolved, intended
• iyeṣa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपदम्; अर्थः: ‘इच्छामास/अभिप्रायं चकार’ (resolved/intended)

• padam: place, trace, whereabouts
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• anveṣṭum: to search
• anveṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√iṣ (धातु) तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थक (purpose) = ‘अन्वेषणं कर्तुम्’ (to search)

• cāraṇa-ācarite: in (the path) frequented by celestial bards
• cāraṇa-ācarite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ācarita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √car (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (m./n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) = ‘चारणैः आचरिते’ (frequented by Cāraṇas)

• pathi: on the path
• pathi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (sg.)

Context

Hanuman, crusher of enemies resolved to find the whereabouts of Sita, carried away by Ravana. He followed the path of the Charanas, celestial bards.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Cāraṇas

FAQs

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

Dharma here is steadfast duty: Hanumān commits himself to a righteous mission—finding the innocent Sītā—without delay or self-interest.

What is the narrative situation?

At the outset of Sundarakāṇḍa, Hanumān begins the decisive search for Sītā after her abduction by Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saṅkalpa (firm resolve) in service of truth and justice—Hanumān’s unwavering commitment to Rāma’s cause.