Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 1

Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 32

Sītā’s Perplexity and Recognition of Hanumān

Devanagari script

ततश्शाखान्तरे लीनं दृष्ट्वा चलितमानसा।वेष्टितार्जुनवस्त्रं तं विद्युत्सङ्घातपिङ्गलम्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śākhāntare līnaṃ dṛṣṭvā calitamānasā | veṣṭitārjunavastraṃ taṃ vidyutsaṅghātapiṅgalam ||

Translation

Dann, als sie ihn zwischen den Zweigen verborgen sah—umhüllt von Weiß und Falb wie ein Bündel von Blitzen—geriet Sītās Geist ins Schwanken und wurde unruhig.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'then/thereupon')

• śākhāntare: between the branches
• śākhāntare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhā-antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: शाखा + अन्तर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'between branches'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• līnam: hidden
• līnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: līna (प्रातिपदिक; from √lī)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; used adjectivally for 'tam'

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), from √दृश्; 'having seen'

• calitamānasā: with agitated mind
• calitamānasā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: calita-mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: चलित (भूतकृदन्त from √चल्) + मानस् (कर्मधारय: 'agitated mind'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with implied 'sā (Sītā)'

• veṣṭita-arjunavastram: wrapped in arjuna-bark cloth/white cloth
• veṣṭita-arjunavastram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veṣṭita-arjuna-vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: वेष्टित (भूतकृदन्त from √वेṣṭ् 'to wrap') + अर्जुनवस्त्र (अर्जुन-सम्बद्धं वस्त्रम्; determinative); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies tam)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vidyut-saṅghāta-piṅgalam: tawny like a mass of lightning
• vidyut-saṅghāta-piṅgalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut-saṅghāta-piṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: विद्युत् + सङ्घात (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'cluster of lightning') + पिङ्गल (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: 'tawny like...'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies tam)

Context

Sita got perplexed on seeing him (Hanuman), who was tawny in complexion and looked like a cluster of lightnings, clad in white and hidden in between the branches.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān (implied)
• Aśoka-vana (implied)
• vidyut (lightning)

FAQs

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

Discernment (viveka) is part of dharma under danger: when threatened, careful perception and cautious judgment protect one from deception.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān remains concealed while observing; Sītā notices a strange figure and becomes mentally unsettled, unsure whether it is friend or foe.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s vigilance and prudence—alertness shaped by prolonged trauma and the risk of rākṣasa deception.