Shloka 17

प्रथमः सर्गः

Rama Praises Hanuman; Anxiety over Crossing the Ocean

Devanagari script

कथं नाम समुद्रस्य दुष्पारस्य महाम्भसः ।हरयो दक्षिणं पारं गमिष्यन्ति समागताः ।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ nāma samudrasya duṣpārasya mahāmbhasaḥ |

harayo dakṣiṇaṃ pāraṃ gamiṣyanti samāgatāḥ ||

Translation

“ഈ മഹാവിശാലവും കടക്കാൻ ദുഷ്കരവുമായ സമുദ്രത്തിന്റെ തെക്കൻ തീരത്തിലേക്ക്, ഇവിടെ കൂടിച്ചേർന്ന വാനരർ എങ്ങനെ കടക്കും?”

Word by Word

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-क्रियाविशेषण)

• nāma: indeed / ever
• nāma: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) for emphasis/astonishment

• samudrasya: of the ocean
• samudrasya: Apādāna/Reference (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• duṣpārasya: hard to cross
• duṣpārasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣpāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular; qualifies samudrasya

• mahāmbhasaḥ: of vast waters
• mahāmbhasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Masculine/Neuter stem ambhas used as adjective; Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular; qualifies samudrasya

• harayaḥ: the monkeys
• harayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dakṣiṇam: southern
• dakṣiṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; qualifies pāram

• pāram: shore
• pāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• gamiṣyanti: will go / will cross
• gamiṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु; गम्)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

• samāgatāḥ: assembled
• samāgatāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√gam (धातु; गम्)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies harayaḥ

Context

"This has been told to me by Vaidehi. How will the monkeys cross the ocean(enquired Vaidehi)."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Samudra/Sāgara (ocean)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands responsible planning: righteous ends require righteous, realistic means. Rāma voices the obstacle openly to seek a lawful and workable solution.

What is the narrative situation?

The army has reached the seashore and must determine how to cross to Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s practical wisdom: he treats the mission as a collective responsibility and anticipates the welfare of the entire host.