Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 23
सप्तदशः सर्गः
Hanuman Beholds Sita in the Ashoka Grove
सीतां भर्तृवशे युक्तामयुक्तां राक्षसीवशे।।।।अशोकवनिकामथ्ये शोकसागरमाप्लुताम्।ताभिः परिवृतां तत्र सग्रहामिव रोहिणीम्।।।।ददर्श हनुमान् देवीं लतामकुसुमामिव।
sītāṃ bhartṛvaśe yuktām ayuktāṃ rākṣasīvaśe |
aśokavanikāmathye śokasāgaram āplutām |
tābhiḥ parivṛtāṃ tatra sagrahām iva rohiṇīm |
dadarśa hanumān devīṃ latām akusumām iva ||5.17.23||
Hanumān saw the noble Sītā—fit to dwell under her husband’s protection, yet forced under the power of rākṣasīs—sitting in the midst of the Aśoka grove, drowned in an ocean of sorrow. Surrounded by those women, she was like Rohiṇī hemmed in by baleful planets, and like a creeper without blossoms.
She deserves to be with Rama, but had fallen under the sway of she-demons. Sitting in the midst of Ashoka grove she was like a creeper without blossoms. Immersed in the ocean of sorrow the noble lady was like the star Rohini surrounded by unpropitious planets.
FAQs
Dharma is portrayed as rightful order—Sītā belongs with Rāma in lawful protection, not under coercion. Satya appears as her unwavering identity and virtue even when surrounded by adharma.
Hanumān finally beholds Sītā clearly in the Aśoka grove, recognizing both her rightful place with Rāma and the unnatural, oppressive reality of her captivity.
Sītā’s constancy (satītva) and moral purity: like a flowerless creeper awaiting season, her virtue remains intact despite hostile surroundings.
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