Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 12

इन्द्रजितो मायासीतावधः

Indrajit’s Illusory Sita Episode and Hanuman’s Rebuke

Devanagari script

अब्रवीत्तांतुशोकार्तांनिरानन्दांतपस्विनीम् ।दृष्टवारथोस्थितांदृष्ट्वाराक्षसेन्द्रसुतश्रिताम् ।।।।कंसमर्थितमस्येतिचिन्तयन्समहाकपिः ।सहतैर्वानरश्रेष्ठैरभ्यधावतरावणिम् ।।।।

Transliteration

abravīt tāṃ tu śokārtāṃ nirānandāṃ tapasvinīm | dṛṣṭvā rathasthitāṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasendrasutaśritām ||

kiṃ samarthitam asyeti cintayan sa mahākapiḥ | saha tair vānaraiḥ śreṣṭhair abhyadhāvata rāvaṇim ||

Translation

فلما رآها — مكلومةً بالحزن، خاليةً من الفرح، تعيش عيشَ الزاهدة — جالسةً على العربة وتحت سلطان ابنِ ملكِ الرّاكشاسا، أخذ القردُ العظيم يفكّر: «ماذا صُنع بها؟» ثم اندفع، ومعه خيرةُ الفانارا، نحو رافَني (إندراجيت).

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संकेत/that (referring to the army)

• वानरबलम्: the Vanara army
• वानरबलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having seen’

• रावणिः: Ravani (Indrajit)
• रावणिः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रोधमूर्छितः: overcome with anger
• क्रोधमूर्छितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjective of रावणिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध + मूर्छित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘faint/deluded with anger’

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having made/done’

• विकोशम्: unsheathed
• विकोशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘unsheathed’ (qualifying निस्त्रिंशम्)

• निस्त्रिंशम्: sword
• निस्त्रिंशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of कृत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निस्त्रिंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘sword’

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अकर्षयत्: dragged/pulled
• अकर्षयत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘dragged/pulled’

Context

Great Vanara, Hanuman, gazing at miserable, joyless, ascetic woman seated in the chariot, worried, why she is in the chariot. He spoke to the best of Vanara leaders and rushed towards the son of Ravana with them.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Rāvaṇi (Indrajit)
• vānaras
• chariot
• rākṣasa-king (Rāvaṇa, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protective action: after careful assessment, one must oppose coercion and injustice, especially when the vulnerable are being exploited.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān sees Sītā displayed under Indrajit’s control, reflects in alarm, and charges Indrajit along with leading vānaras.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s courage and guardianship—swift, decisive protection rooted in loyalty to Rāma and compassion for Sītā.