Valmiki Ramayana 6.1.8 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 8
प्रथमः सर्गः
Rama Praises Hanuman; Anxiety over Crossing the Ocean
नियुक्तोय: परं कार्यं न कुर्यान्नृपतेः प्रियम् ।भृत्योऽभृत्यस्समर्थोऽपि तमाहुर्मध्यमं नरम् ।।।।
niyukto yaḥ paraṃ kāryaṃ na kuryān nṛpateḥ priyam | bhṛtyo 'bhṛtyaḥ samartho 'pi tam āhur madhyamaṃ naram ||
Ainda que capaz, o servo que, mesmo nomeado, não realiza também o que é querido e benéfico ao rei além do encargo, é chamado de homem mediano.
An efficient servant does not only do what is asked but also does the work dear to the king. One who does not do so is said to be mediocre.
FAQs
Dharma of service includes proactive goodwill: not merely completing orders, but advancing the rightful aims of the leader and the mission.
A graded evaluation of servants is being taught, using Hanumān implicitly as the highest standard.
Proactive responsibility—intelligence and initiative aligned with the master’s righteous interest.
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