Shloka 28

षोडशः सर्गः (Sarga 16): Hanumān’s Recognition of Sītā and Renewed Lament

Devanagari script

इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणाम्।सुखार्हां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा ममापि व्यथितं मनः।।5.16.28।।

Transliteration

imām asitakeśāntāṃ śatapatranibhekṣaṇām |

sukhārhāṃ duḥkhitāṃ dṛṣṭvā mamāpi vyathitaṃ manaḥ ||5.16.28||

Translation

Als ich sie sah — dunkelhaarig, lotusäugig, des Glücks würdig — nun vom Leid gebeugt, wurde auch mein eigenes Herz schmerzlich bewegt.

Word by Word

• imām: this (her)
• imām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• asita-keśa-antām: with dark hair
• asita-keśa-antām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asita (प्रातिपदिक) + keśa (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to imām; तत्पुरुष: 'asitāḥ keśāḥ yasyāḥ teṣāṃ antaḥ' (having dark hair/with dark hair at the ends)

• śata-patra-nibha-īkṣaṇām: lotus-eyed (hundred-petalled-lotus-like eyes)
• śata-patra-nibha-īkṣaṇām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to imām; तत्पुरुष: 'śatapatrasya (padmasya) nibhāni īkṣaṇāni yasyāḥ' (eyes like a hundred-petalled lotus)

• sukha-arhām: deserving happiness
• sukha-arhām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + arhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'sukhasya arhā' (worthy of happiness)

• duḥkhitām: sorrowful
• duḥkhitām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to imām

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययभाव), 'having seen'

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), 'also/even'

• vyathitam: distressed
• vyathitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyathita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to manaḥ

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"Deprived of her charm, she resembles a lotus-creeper blasted by frost. This daughter of Janaka has reached a pitiable condition afflicted by series of calamities. She resembles a famale Chakravaka separated from her mate.

Characters & Entities

• Sita

FAQs

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

Compassion is a dharmic response to suffering: the righteous do not become numb to injustice; they allow empathy to move them toward right action.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman beholds Sītā directly in the Aśoka grove and is emotionally affected by her undeserved misery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanuman’s karuṇā (compassion) and moral sensitivity.