Shloka 3

सुन्‍दरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः

Hanuman’s Sweet Address to Sita and Sita’s Recognition

Devanagari script

राजर्षीणां गुणश्रेष्ठस्तपसा चर्षिभि स्समः।चक्रवर्तिकुले जातः पुरन्दरसमो बले।।।।

Transliteration

rājarṣīṇāṃ guṇaśreṣṭhas tapasā cārṣibhiḥ samaḥ | cakravartikule jātaḥ purandarasamo bale ||

Translation

Unter den königlichen Weisen war er der Vorzüglichste an Tugenden; in Askese den ṛṣis gleich. Im Geschlecht der Weltenherrscher geboren, war er an Macht wie Purandara (Indra).

Word by Word

• ahiṃsāratiḥ: devoted to non-violence
• ahiṃsāratiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ahiṃsā (प्रातिपदिक) + rati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘ahiṃsāyāṃ ratiḥ’ (delighting in non-violence)

• akṣudraḥ: not mean; noble
• akṣudraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṣudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); privative a-

• ghṛṇī: compassionate
• ghṛṇī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghṛṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• satyaparākramaḥ: whose valor is grounded in truth
• satyaparākramaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: ‘satyaḥ parākramaḥ yasya’ (whose valor is truthful/steadfast in truth)

• mukhyaḥ: chief
• mukhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• ikṣvākuvaṃśasya: of the Ikṣvāku line
• ikṣvākuvaṃśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘ikṣvākūnāṃ vaṃśaḥ’ (Ikṣvāku lineage)

• lakṣmīvān: prosperous
• lakṣmīvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + -mat (मतुप्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); मतुप्

• lakṣmivardhanaḥ: increaser of prosperity
• lakṣmivardhanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक; from √vṛdh)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘lakṣmyā vardhanaḥ’ (increaser of prosperity)

Context

"He was the most virtuous among royal sages, equal to sages in austerity, born in the race of emperors and equal to Indra in might.

Characters & Entities

• Purandara (Indra)
• rājarṣi
• ṛṣi

FAQs

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

True kingship (rājadharma) is grounded in inner virtue and disciplined self-restraint (tapas), not merely power; strength is praised when anchored in moral excellence.

What is the narrative situation?

In captivity, Sītā recollects the stature and qualities of the Ikṣvāku king (Daśaratha), as part of her remembrance of Rāma’s world and lineage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s exemplary virtue: ascetic discipline like sages and sovereign strength like Indra—an ideal fusion of restraint and power.