Shloka 2

प्रथमः सर्गः

Rama Praises Hanuman; Anxiety over Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

कृतं हनुमता कार्यं सुमहद्भुवि दुर्लभम् ।मनसापि यदन्येन न शक्यं धरणीतले ।।।।

Transliteration

kṛtaṃ hanumatā kāryaṃ sumahad bhuvi durlabham |

manasāpi yad anyena na śakyaṃ dharaṇītale ||

Translation

Rāma sprach: „Hanumān, du hast ein wahrhaft großes Werk vollbracht, selten in dieser Welt; etwas, das kein anderer auf Erden vermöchte, nicht einmal im Gedanken.“

Word by Word

• kṛtam: done/accomplished
• kṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + क्त (Kṛdanta)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate with kāryam

• hanumatā: by Hanumān
• hanumatā: Kartṛ (कर्ता; agent in passive, तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agent in passive

• kāryam: task
• kāryam: Karma (कर्म; patient/subject in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); subject of passive

• sumahat: very great
• sumahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); intensifier su-; qualifying kāryam

• bhuvi: on earth/in the world
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• durlabham: hard to obtain/rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + labha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying kāryam

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण; instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि) ‘even’

• yat: which/that (task)
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा)/Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun referring to kāryam

• anyena: by anyone else
• anyena: Kartṛ (कर्ता; agent in passive, तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agent in passive with śakyam

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śak (धातु) + यत् (Kṛdanta; शक्य)
• Form: Potential/gerundive (यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘possible’

• dharaṇītale: on the earth’s surface
• dharaṇītale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: dharaṇyāḥ talaṃ ‘surface of the earth’

Context

"On Hanuman finding Vaidehi, I and, mighty Lakshmana and the whole of Raghu dynasty are now rightfully protected."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

The verse highlights kṛtajñatā—righteous gratitude. Dharma includes recognizing and honoring selfless service; Rāma openly acknowledges Hanumān’s extraordinary duty fulfilled for a just cause.

What is the narrative situation?

After Hanumān returns from Laṅkā with news of Sītā, Rāma responds by praising the near-impossible mission Hanumān has completed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s vīrya (heroic capability) joined with sevā-bhāva (devoted service)—his power is directed toward righteous purpose rather than self-display.