Shloka 21

हनूमता सुग्रीवस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः

Hanuman’s Counsel on Timely Ally-Duty

Devanagari script

अकर्तुरपि कार्यस्य भवान्कर्ता हरीश्वरकिं पुनः प्रतिकर्तुस्ते राज्येन च धनेन च।।

Transliteration

akartur api kāryasya bhavān kartā harīśvara |

kiṃ punaḥ pratikartus te rājyena ca dhanena ca ||

Translation

Hỡi chúa tể loài khỉ, ngài còn giúp cả người chưa từng giúp mình; huống chi nay đã vững ngôi và có của, ngài lại không báo đáp người đã vì ngài mà hành động—bằng vương quốc và tài sản?

Word by Word

• अकर्तुः: of one who did not do (it)
• अकर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक; kartṛ from √kṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of a non-doer’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात; ‘even’

• कार्यस्य: of the task
• कार्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• भवान्: you
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; honorific ‘you’

• कर्ता: doer
• कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from √kṛ, agent noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘doer/agent’

• हरीश्वर: O lord of monkeys
• हरीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative particle) ‘what?’

• पुनः: then/further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar/punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति/अधिक्य (adverb) ‘again/further’

• प्रतिकर्तुः: of one who repays in return
• प्रतिकर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati-kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक; kartṛ from √kṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of one who repays/does in return’

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘your’

• राज्येन: with kingdom
• राज्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by/with kingdom’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• धनेन: with wealth
• धनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by/with wealth’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

Context

'O lord of monkeys! help even a person who has not helped you. As such, do you need to be told that you should help one, with whose help you have earned wealth and kingdom?

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Sugriva
• Rama

FAQs

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

Repaying help received is dharma. Gratitude and reciprocity are moral obligations, especially when one’s own prosperity (kingdom, wealth) was gained through another’s aid.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman reminds Sugriva that Rama’s help restored Sugriva’s fortunes; therefore Sugriva must now act in return by assisting Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛtajñatā (gratitude) and loyalty to alliances—honoring benefits received with faithful action.