Shloka 156

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

अथवा मैथिलीं दृष्ट्वा रामं चाक्लिष्टकारिणम्।आगमिष्यामि ते वक्त्रं सत्यं प्रतिशृणोमि ते।।5.1.156।।

Transliteration

athavā maithilīṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmaṃ cākliṣṭakāriṇam | āgamiṣyāmi te vaktraṃ satyaṃ pratiśṛṇomi te ||

Translation

Ou bien, après avoir vu Maithilī et aussi Rāma, qui accomplit son œuvre sans défaillance, je reviendrai devant toi ; en vérité, je te le promets solennellement.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle: alternatively)

• मैथिलीम्: Maithilī (Sītā)
• मैथिलीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having seen’

• रामम्: Rāma
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अक्लिष्टकारिणम्: the unwearied doer
• अक्लिष्टकारिणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akliṣṭa-kārin (प्रातिपदिक: अक्लिष्ट + कारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘one who acts without trouble’ (qualifier of रामम्)

• आगमिष्यामि: I will come/reach
• आगमिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+gam (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वक्त्रम्: mouth
• वक्त्रम्: Gati (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); सत्यार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (truly)

• प्रतिशृणोमि: I promise / I assure
• प्रतिशृणोमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati+śru (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Rāma
• Surasā

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) as dharma: Hanumān binds himself by a truthful promise, making integrity the foundation of his mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān assures Surasā that he will complete his purpose—meeting Sītā and returning to Rāma—and then return, pledging it as truth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reliability and truthfulness—Hanumān’s commitment to keep his word under pressure.