Considered as the Adikavi or the original poet, he is most famous for translating the epic Ramayana from Sanskrit to Nepali. While not really the first poet to originate from Nepal, as their have been many before him, Bhanubhakta is considered the original poet as he was able to use the native language, Nepali, in literature as it was considered too bastardized to be of use in literature and was used merely as everyday speech. Bhanubhakta was able to make the important Hindu literature Ramayana, and more importantly literature as a whole, available to the predominantly Hindu Nepali people who were at that time mostly illiterate and unfamiliar with Sanskrit. His achievement with the Ramayana elevated the Nepali language to be of use in literature which is why he is considered the Adikavi.