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Shloka 23

हनूमता सुग्रीवस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः

Hanuman’s Counsel on Timely Ally-Duty

कामं खलु शरैश्शक्तस्सुरासुरमहोरगान्।वशे दाशरथिः कर्तुं त्वत्प्रतिज्ञां हि काङ्क्षते।।

kāmaṃ khalu śaraiḥ śaktaḥ surāsuramahoragān |

vaśe dāśarathiḥ kartuṃ tvatpratijñāṃ hi kāṅkṣate ||

بےشک دَشرتھ کا فرزند اپنے تیروں سے دیوتاؤں، اسوروں اور مہا ناگوں تک کو زیرِ نگیں کر سکتا ہے؛ پھر بھی وہ تیری دی ہوئی پرتیجنا—تیری عہد بند مدد—کا طالب ہے۔

kāmamindeed
kāmam:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkāmam (अव्यय/निपात)
FormAvyaya; emphatic particle (nipāta): 'indeed/for sure/if you like'
khalucertainly
khalu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkhalu (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; niścaya/avadhāraṇa particle: 'certainly'
śaraiḥwith arrows
śaraiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootśara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)
śaktaḥable/capable
śaktaḥ:
Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśakta (प्रातिपदिक; √śak (धातु) + क्त)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Kta-participle used adjectivally
surāsuramahoragāngods, demons, and great serpents
surāsuramahoragān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsura + asura + mahā + uraga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; dvandva list: 'gods, demons, and great serpents'
vaśeunder control
vaśe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootvaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana; idiom: vaśe kartum = 'to bring under control'
dāśarathiḥRāma (son of Daśaratha)
dāśarathiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdāśarathi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
kartumto do/to make
kartum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु)
FormTumun-anta (Infinitive)
tvatpratijñāmyour promise
tvatpratijñām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottvat + pratijñā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'your promise'
hiindeed/for
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; hetu/avadhāraṇa particle: 'for/indeed'
kāṅkṣatedesires/awaits
kāṅkṣate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√kāṅkṣ (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

'Indeed, Rama is fully capable of subduing gods, demons as well as nagas with his arrows. He is looking for your help in view of your promise.

H
Hanuman
S
Sugriva
R
Rama
D
Daśaratha
S
Suras
A
Asuras
M
Mahoragas (Nāgas)

FAQs

Satya and dharma require honoring promises. Even the mighty value pledged support because moral bonds and alliances depend on truthfulness, not mere power.

Hanuman clarifies that Rama is not helpless; he is waiting because Sugriva has promised help—making Sugriva’s obligation moral and binding.

Integrity in alliances—keeping one’s word when another relies upon it.