Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 2

सप्तदशः सर्गः

Hanuman Beholds Sita in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

साचिव्यमिव कुर्वन् स प्रभया निर्मलप्रभः।चन्द्रमा रश्मिभिश्शीतैस्सिषेवे पवनात्मजम्।।।।

Transliteration

sācivyam iva kurvan sa prabhayā nirmalaprabhaḥ |

candramā raśmibhiḥ śītaiḥ siṣeve pavanātmajam ||5.17.2||

Translation

The moon, shining with spotless brilliance, seemed to lend aid: with cool rays it refreshed Hanumān, the son of the Wind, as the night’s search for truth went on.

Word by Word

• sācivyam: service/ministering
• sācivyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sācivya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमावाचक-अव्यय)

• kurvan: doing/rendering
• kurvan: Kriya (क्रिया/participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-प्रत्यय), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with candramā

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• prabhayā: by (his) radiance
• prabhayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirmala-prabhaḥ: of pure radiance
• nirmala-prabhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirmala (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: 'nirmalā prabhā yasya saḥ' (one whose light is pure)

• candramāḥ: the Moon
• candramāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candramas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• raśmibhiḥ: with rays
• raśmibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raśmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śītaiḥ: cool
• śītaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective to raśmibhiḥ

• siṣeve: served/refreshed
• siṣeve: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sev (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pavana-ātmajam: son of the Wind (Hanuman)
• pavana-ātmajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'pavanasya ātmajaḥ' (son of the Wind)

Context

The Moon shed clear light-as if with his brightness and his cool rays he wished to refresh the son of the Wind-god.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Pavana (Wind-god)
• Candra (Moon)

FAQs

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

Dharma-work pursued with sincerity is supported by the cosmos: the moonlight becomes a metaphor for clarity and satya that aids a righteous mission.

What is the narrative situation?

During Hanumān’s nocturnal search in Laṅkā, the moon’s cool, bright rays illuminate and steady him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s perseverance: he continues his difficult task patiently, using the conditions (moonlight) wisely rather than relying on force.