Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 28

लाङ्गूलदाह-पर्यटनम्

The Burning Tail and the Parade through Laṅkā

Devanagari script

यद्यस्ति पतिशुश्रूषा यद्यस्ति चरितं तपः।यदि चास्त्येकपत्नीत्वं शीतो भव हनूमतः।।5.53.28।।

Transliteration

yady asti patiśuśrūṣā yady asti caritaṃ tapaḥ | yadi cāsty ekapatnītvaṃ śīto bhava hanūmataḥ ||5.53.28||

Translation

“If there is truth in my service to my husband, if there is truth in the austerity I have practiced, and if there is truth in my single-hearted fidelity—then, O Fire, be cool to Hanumān.”

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तवाचक (conditional particle)

• अस्ति: is / exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पति-शुश्रूषा: service to (my) husband
• पति-शुश्रूषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पतेः शुश्रूषा’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तवाचक

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• चरितम्: practice/observance
• चरितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय) ‘चरित’ used as noun; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तवाचक

• च: and
• च: Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एक-पत्नीत्वम्: single-spouse fidelity
• एक-पत्नीत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नीत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभाव: ‘एकस्य पत्नीत्वम्’ = monogamous fidelity); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शीतः: cool
• शीतः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative adjective)

• भव: become / be
• भव: Vidhi/Command (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• हनूमतः: for Hanuman
• हनूमतः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धे षष्ठी (for Hanuman / in relation to Hanuman)

Context

"O Fire-god! if I have served my husband, if I have practised austerities, and if I am loyal to my husband, be cool to Hanuman.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Agni (Fire-god)
• tapas (austerity)

FAQs

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

Satya as moral power: Sītā invokes the truth of her dharmic conduct (devotion, austerity, fidelity) as a protective force, asking Agni to suspend harm.

What is the narrative situation?

With Hanumān’s tail burning in Laṅkā, Sītā prays that the fire will not injure him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity (satya) and steadfast fidelity, presented as spiritually efficacious and protective.