Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 12

षोडशः सर्गः (Sarga 16): Hanumān’s Recognition of Sītā and Renewed Lament

Devanagari script

सागरश्च मया क्रान्तश्श्रीमान्नदनदीपतिः।अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्याः पुरी चेयमवेक्षिता।।5.16.12।।

Transliteration

sāgaraś ca mayā krāntaḥ śrīmān nadanadīpatiḥ |

asyā hetor viśālākṣyāḥ purī ceyam avekṣitā ||5.16.12||

Translation

Por la causa de aquella dama de grandes ojos (Sītā), crucé el océano—señor espléndido de ríos y corrientes—y también he contemplado ahora esta ciudad.

Word by Word

• सागरः: ocean
• सागरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: also
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता), एकवचन

• क्रान्तः: was crossed
• क्रान्तः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘crossed’ (सागरः इति सह)

• श्रीमान्: glorious, splendid
• श्रीमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सागरः/नदनदीपतिः)

• नदनदीपतिः: lord of rivers and streams
• नदनदीपतिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नद-नदी-पति (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: नद + नदी + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सागरस्य उपाधिः (apposition)

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हेतोः: for the sake
• हेतोः: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतोः-षष्ठी ‘for the sake of’

• विशालाक्ष्याः: of the large-eyed (lady)
• विशालाक्ष्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल-अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अस्याः)

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘this’ (qualifying पुरी)

• अवेक्षिता: was surveyed
• अवेक्षिता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘was observed/surveyed’ (पुरी इति सह)

Context

"On account of the large-eyed Sita I ventured to cross the lord of rivers, the sea, and came to this city.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Ocean (Sāgara)
• Laṅkā (city implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma as steadfast service: extraordinary effort (crossing the ocean) is justified when undertaken for a righteous cause—protecting the innocent and restoring moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān notes the magnitude of his journey and reconnaissance in Laṅkā, grounding his next decision in what he has accomplished for Sītā’s sake.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage joined with purpose—heroism directed by duty rather than self-display.