Valmiki Ramayana 5.1.114 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 114

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

कृते च प्रतिकर्तव्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः।सोऽयं त्वत्प्रतिकारार्थी त्वत्तः सम्मानमर्हति।।5.1.114।।

Transliteration

kṛte ca pratikartavyam eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | so ’yaṁ tvat-pratikārārthī tvattaḥ sammānam arhati ||

Translation

कृते प्रतिकर्तव्यम्—एष धर्मः सनातनः। अयं तु त्वत्प्रतिकारार्थी, त्वत्तः सम्मानमर्हति॥

Word by Word

• kṛte: when (a deed) is done
• kṛte: Kāla/Adhikaraṇa (काल/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ कृ)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī (Loc.,7th), Ekavacana; Kta-participle used substantively; locative absolute sense 'when (a favour is) done'

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

• pratikartavyam: should be repaid
• pratikartavyam: Vidhi (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्य)
• Form: Kṛtya (तव्यत्) gerundive; Napuṃsaka, Prathamā (Nom.,1st), Ekavacana; impersonal predicate 'it should be repaid'

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta-anuguṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.,1st), Ekavacana; dharmaḥ iti viśeṣaṇam

• dharmaḥ: dharma, duty
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.,1st), Ekavacana

• sanātanaḥ: eternal
• sanātanaḥ: Karta-anuguṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.,1st), Ekavacana; dharmaḥ iti viśeṣaṇam

• saḥ: he/that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ayam: this (very one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; saḥ + ayam = so 'yam (sandhi)

• tvat-pratikāra-arthī: seeking to repay you
• tvat-pratikāra-arthī: Karta-anuguṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvat (युष्मद्-षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) + pratikāra (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.,1st), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः—'त्वत्प्रतिकारस्य अर्थी' (desirous of repaying you)

• tvattaḥ: from you
• tvattaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Pañcamī vibhakti (Ablative, 5th), Ekavacana

• sammānam: honour, respect
• sammānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sammāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (or Napuṃsaka usage), Dvitīyā (Acc.,2nd), Ekavacana

• arhati: deserves
• arhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sāgara (ocean deity) (implied by context)

FAQs

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

Pratikāra (reciprocation) rooted in satya and gratitude: acknowledging and repaying help is presented as timeless moral law.

What is the narrative situation?

Maināka justifies the ocean’s gesture: it is proper to accept honor offered as repayment for past benefit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtajñatā and dhārmika conduct: the insistence that moral debts should be recognized and answered.