Shloka 6.1.16

प्रथमः सर्गः — Rama Praises Hanuman; Anxiety over Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

सर्वथा सुकृतं तावत्सीतायाः परिमार्गणम् ।सागरं तु समासाद्य पुनर्नष्टं मनो मम ।।।।

Transliteration

dhyātvā punar uvācedaṃ vacanaṃ raghunandanaḥ |

harīṇām īśvarasyāpi sugrīvasya upaśṛṇvataḥ ||

Translation

Then Rāma, the delight of the Raghu line, reflected and spoke again these words—while Sugrīva, lord of the vānaras, listened closely.

Context

"By all means good work was done in searching for Sita. On the contrary, having succeeded, my mind is once again agitated when I think of (crossing) the ocean."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Harayaḥ/Vānaras
• Raghu (dynasty reference)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance includes deliberation before action. Rāma models thoughtful speech—decision-making grounded in reflection and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

After embracing Hanumān, Rāma pauses to think and then continues speaking, with Sugrīva attentively present.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s prudence (vicāra) as a leader: he balances emotion with careful planning.