प्रथमः सर्गः — Rama Praises Hanuman; Anxiety over Crossing the Ocean
युद्धकाण्ड
This sarga opens with Rāma listening to Hanumān’s report and responding with visible affection and formal praise. Rāma elevates Hanumān’s achievement as nearly unparalleled—crossing the great ocean and entering the heavily guarded city of Laṅkā—framing it as an exemplar of ideal service (bhṛtya-dharma). A graded ethical typology of servants is articulated: the best performs difficult tasks with devotion; the mediocre fails to anticipate what is dear to the king; the base fails even at the entrusted duty. Rāma then acknowledges that Hanumān’s success safeguards the Raghu line by confirming Vaidehī’s whereabouts, yet he expresses a poignant inability to repay such pleasing speech and service adequately, offering an embrace as “all he can give” at that moment. The discourse pivots from celebration to strategy: despite successful intelligence, Rāma’s mind becomes agitated by the logistical and existential challenge of crossing the vast, difficult-to-ford ocean with the assembled vānaras. The chapter closes with Rāma, sorrow-stirred yet resolute, turning toward reflection and consultation centered on Hanumān and the impending ocean-crossing problem.
Verse 6.1.1
श्रुत्वा हनुमतो वाक्यं यथावदभिभाषितम् ।रामः प्रीतिसमायुक्तो वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ।।।।
Then, returning to his true form, he reflected: “Surely Sītā is preeminent in virtue above all. Alas—Laṅkā’s lord has done to her a grievous deed, unworthy of the noble.”
Verse 6.1.2
कृतं हनुमता कार्यं सुमहद्भुवि दुर्लभम् ।मनसापि यदन्येन न शक्यं धरणीतले ।।।।
Having spoken thus, Rāma—mighty-armed, destroyer of foes, yet shaken by grief—turned toward Hanumān and then sank into deep reflection.
Verse 6.1.3
न हि तं परिपश्यामि यस्तरेत महार्णवम् ।अन्यत्र गरुडाद्वायोरन्यत्र च हनूमतः ।।।।
Indeed, I see none who could cross the great ocean—except Garuḍa, or Vāyu, and except Hanumān.
Verse 6.1.4
देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् ।अप्रधृष्यां पुरीं लङ्कां रावणेन सुरक्षिताम् ।प्रवष्ट स्सत्त्वमाश्रित्यश्वसन्को नाम निष्क्रमेत् ।।।।
Laṅkā—securely guarded by Rāvaṇa—is unassailable even for devas, dānavas, yakṣas, gandharvas, nāgas, and rākṣasas. Having entered it relying only on courage, who indeed could come out alive?
Verse 6.1.5
को विशेत्सुदुराधर्षां राक्षसैश्च सुरक्षिताम् ।यो वीर्यबलसम्पन्नो न समस्याद्धनूमतः ।।।।
Who could enter that utterly inaccessible Laṅkā, guarded by rākṣasas—except one endowed with such valor and strength as Hanumān?
Verse 6.1.6
भृत्यकार्यं हनुमता सुग्रीवस्य कृतंमहत् ।स्वयं विधाय स्वबलं सदृशं विक्रमस्य च ।।।।
Hanumān has fulfilled for Sugrīva the great duty of a servant—of his own accord, he brought forth strength befitting his valor.
Verse 6.1.7
यो हि भृत्यो नियुक्तस्सन्भर्त्रा कर्मणि दुष्करे ।कुर्यात्तदनुरागेण तमाहुः पुरुषोत्तमम् ।।।।
He is called the best of men who, though a servant appointed by his master to a difficult task, performs it with genuine devotion.
Verse 6.1.8
नियुक्तोय: परं कार्यं न कुर्यान्नृपतेः प्रियम् ।भृत्योऽभृत्यस्समर्थोऽपि तमाहुर्मध्यमं नरम् ।।।।
Even if capable, a servant who, though appointed, does not also do what is dear and beneficial to the king beyond the bare assignment is called a middling man.
Verse 6.1.9
नियुक्तो नृपतेः कार्यं न कुर्याद्यस्समाहितः ।भृत्यो युक्तस्समर्थश्च तमाहुः पुरुषाधमम् ।।।।
But a servant who is competent and able—having accepted the king’s commission—yet does not carry out that task, is called the lowest of men.
Verse 6.1.10
तन्नियोगे नियुक्तेन कृतं कृत्यं हनूमता ।न चात्मा लघुतां नीतस्सुग्रीवश्चापि तोषितः ।।।।
Having heard Hanumān’s words, spoken properly and in due order, Rāma—filled with affection—gave his reply.
Verse 6.1.11
अहं च रघुवंशश्च लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः ।वैदेह्या दर्शनेनाद्य धर्मतः परिरक्षिताः ।।।।
Rāma said: “Hanumān, you have accomplished a truly great task, rare in this world—one that no other being on this earth could achieve, even in thought.”
Verse 6.1.12
इदं तु मम दीनस्य मनो भूयः प्रकर्षति ।यदिहास्य प्रियाख्यातुर्न कुर्मि सदृशं प्रियम् ।।।।
“By seeing Vaidehī today, I—together with mighty Lakṣmaṇa and the whole Raghu lineage—stand safeguarded in dharma.”
Verse 6.1.13
एष सर्वस्वभूते परिष्वङ्गो हनूमतः ।मया कालमिमं प्राप्य दत्तस्तस्य महात्मनः ।।।।
“Yet my mind, in my helplessness, is pained again and again, for I cannot return a fitting kindness to him who has brought such welcome, heartening words.”
Verse 6.1.14
इत्युक्त्वा प्रीतिहृष्टाङ्गो रामस्तं परिषस्वजे ।हनूमन्तं कृतात्मानं कृतकार्यमुपागतम् ।।।।
This embrace is, as it were, all that I can offer to Hanumān. Having gained this moment, I bestow it upon that great-souled one.
Verse 6.1.15
ध्यात्वा पुनरुवाचेदं वचनं रघुनन्दनः ।हरीणामीश्वरस्यापि सुग्रीवस्योपशृण्वतः ।।।।
Having spoken thus, Rāma—his whole body thrilled with affectionate joy—embraced Hanumān, the self-possessed hero who had returned after completing his mission.
Verse 6.1.16
सर्वथा सुकृतं तावत्सीतायाः परिमार्गणम् ।सागरं तु समासाद्य पुनर्नष्टं मनो मम ।।।।
Then Rāma, the delight of the Raghu line, reflected and spoke again these words—while Sugrīva, lord of the vānaras, listened closely.
Verse 6.1.17
कथं नाम समुद्रस्य दुष्पारस्य महाम्भसः ।हरयो दक्षिणं पारं गमिष्यन्ति समागताः ।।।।
“In every way, the search for Sītā has been well accomplished. Yet, on reaching the ocean, my mind falters again—troubled by what lies ahead.”
Verse 6.1.18
यद्यप्येष तु वृत्तान्तो वैदेह्या गदितो मम ।समुद्रपारगमने हरीणां किमिहोत्तरम् ।।।।
“How indeed will the gathered vānaras cross to the southern shore of this vast ocean—so difficult to pass?”
Verse 6.1.19
इत्युक्तवा शोकसम्भ्रान्तो राम श्शत्रुनिबर्हणः ।हनूमन्तं महाबाहुस्ततो ध्यानमुपागमत् ।।।।
Though Vaidehī has told me this whole account, one question still remains: what answer is there for the vānaras’ crossing of the ocean?