Valmiki Ramayana 5.1.2 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 2

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

दुष्करं निष्प्रतिद्वन्द्वं चिकीर्षन् कर्म वानरः।समुदग्रशिरोग्रीवो गवांपतिरिवाबभौ।।।।

Transliteration

duṣkaraṃ niṣpratidvandvaṃ cikīrṣan karma vānaraḥ | samudagraśirogrīvo gavāṃpatir ivābabhau ||

Translation

Dengan niat melakukan tugas yang amat sukar dan tiada tandingan, wanara itu berdiri dengan kepala dan leher terangkat tinggi; tampak laksana banteng agung, ketua di tengah kawanan lembu.

Word by Word

• duṣkaram: difficult
• duṣkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); कर्म-विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘karma’)

• niṣpratidvandvam: unchallengeable
• niṣpratidvandvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣ-pratidvandva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/निषेधपूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः = ‘प्रतिद्वन्द्वो न अस्ति यस्य’ (without an opponent / unchallengeable)

• cikīrṣan: intending to do
• cikīrṣan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) सन्-प्रत्यय (desiderative) शतृ (present active participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम् = ‘कर्तुम् इच्छन्’ (intending to do)

• karma: deed, task
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vānaraḥ: the monkey (Hanuman)
• vānaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• samudagra-śiro-grīvaḥ: with head and neck held high
• samudagra-śiro-grīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samudagra (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + grīvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः = ‘समुदग्रे शिरः-ग्रीवे यस्य’ (whose head and neck were raised high)

• gavām-patiḥ: a bull (lord of cows)
• gavām-patiḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gavām (go, प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः = ‘गवां पतिः’ (lord of cattle, bull)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• ababhau: appeared, shone
• ababhau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; अर्थः ‘शोभितवान्/प्रकाशितवान्’ (appeared, shone)

Context

Hanuman who raised his head and neck, intending to cross the formidable ocean which none else could accomplish, looked like a leading bull.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma is courageous undertaking for a just cause: the verse praises readiness to attempt what is difficult when it serves truth and righteousness (the search for Sītā).

What is the narrative situation?

At the outset of Sundarakāṇḍa, Hanumān readies himself to cross the ocean—a task presented as extraordinary and daunting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless determination (dhairya) and heroic effort (udyama) directed toward service.