Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 6

प्रथमः सर्गः

Rama Praises Hanuman; Anxiety over Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

भृत्यकार्यं हनुमता सुग्रीवस्य कृतंमहत् ।स्वयं विधाय स्वबलं सदृशं विक्रमस्य च ।।।।

Transliteration

bhṛtyakāryaṃ hanumatā sugrīvasya kṛtaṃ mahat | svayaṃ vidhāya svabalaṃ sadṛśaṃ vikramasya ca ||

Translation

हनुमान ने सुग्रीव के लिए सेवक-धर्म का महान् कार्य किया—स्वयं पहल करके अपने पराक्रम के अनुरूप बल प्रकट किया।

Word by Word

• bhṛtya-kāryam: a servant's duty
• bhṛtya-kāryam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya+kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (भृत्यस्य कार्यम्)

• hanumatā: by Hanumān
• hanumatā: Karana (करण/Agent-instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• sugrīvasya: of Sugrīva
• sugrīvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• kṛtam: done, accomplished
• kṛtam: Kriya (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त, kṛ धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (bhṛtyakāryam)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (bhṛtyakāryam)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• vidhāya: having arranged/put in place
• vidhāya: Kriya (क्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi+dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• svabalam: his own strength
• svabalam: Karma (कर्म/Object of vidhāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva+bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य बलम्)

• sadṛśam: suitable, befitting
• sadṛśam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (svabalam)

• vikramasya: of valor
• vikramasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Context

"Hanuman, with his mighty form and valour not only carried out a great task assigned by Sugriva but also what had to be done as duty."

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sugrīva

FAQs

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

Bhṛtya-dharma (the dharma of service): a true servant not only obeys but also understands the goal and acts responsibly to fulfill it.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative evaluates Hanumān’s mission as exemplary service rendered on behalf of Sugrīva’s alliance with Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Initiative joined with loyalty—acting decisively without needing constant direction.