Shloka 16

सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः

हनुमद्वृत्तान्तकथनम्, सीताभिज्ञान-प्रदानम्, लङ्कादाह-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

रामस्य च मया साह्ये वर्तितव्यमरिन्दम।।।।रामो धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो महेन्द्रसमविक्रमः।

Transliteration

rāmasya ca mayā sāhye vartitavyam arindama |

rāmo dharma-bhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho mahendra-sama-vikramaḥ ||

Translation

Ô dompteur des ennemis, je dois m’appliquer au service et au soutien de Rāma ; car Rāma est le plus éminent des gardiens du dharma, et sa vaillance égale celle de Mahendra.

Word by Word

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Gen sg)

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

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instr sg)

• sāhye: in helping, in assistance
• sāhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Loc sg); ‘in the matter of help/assistance’

• vartitavyam: must be done/acted upon
• vartitavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) > vartitavya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; impersonal obligation: ‘it must be acted/effort must be made’

• arindama: O subduer of foes
• arindama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari-ndama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (Voc sg); समास: अरिणां दमः (subduer of enemies)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom sg)

• dharma-bhṛtām: of the upholders of dharma
• dharma-bhṛtām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + bhṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Gen pl); समास: धर्मं भृतः (those who uphold dharma)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: foremost
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom sg); predicate adjective of rāmaḥ

• mahendra-sama-vikramaḥ: equal to Indra in prowess
• mahendra-sama-vikramaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahendra + sama + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom sg); समास: महेन्द्रेण समः विक्रमः यस्य (equal-to-Indra in valor; tatpuruṣa-style epithet)

Context

'O subduer of enemies!I must make efforts to help Rama the foremost among the righteous, for I have received help (from your father) who is equal to Indra in valour'.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Hanuman

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as sevā (righteous service): recognizing Rama as the foremost upholder of dharma, Hanuman treats assisting him as a binding moral obligation.

What is the narrative situation?

Following the crisis and its resolution, Hanuman re-centers himself on the duty of aiding Rama’s mission, affirming Rama’s righteous stature and strength.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bhakti and kartavya-niṣṭhā (devotion and duty-commitment): Hanuman’s identity is anchored in purposeful assistance to dharma.