Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 6

रामलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of Rama and Lakshmana; Alliance Narrative to Sita

Devanagari script

जानन्ती बत दिष्ट्या मां वैदेहि परिपृच्छसि।भर्तुः कमलपत्त्राक्षि संस्थानं लक्ष्मणस्य च।।।।

Transliteration

jānantī bata diṣṭyā māṃ vaidehi paripṛcchasi | bhartuḥ kamalapattrākṣi saṃsthānaṃ lakṣmaṇasya ca ||

Translation

O Vaidehī, du Lotosblättrigäugige! Obgleich du Gestalt und Kennzeichen deines Gemahls und auch Lakṣmaṇas bereits kennst, ist es doch ein glückverheißendes Geschick, dass du mich bittest, sie zu beschreiben.

Word by Word

• jānantī: knowing (though you know)
• jānantī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bata: indeed!
• bata: Bhāva (भाव/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bata (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamatory particle (उद्गार-निपात)

• diṣṭyā: by good fortune
• diṣṭyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (2 विभक्ति/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaidehi: O Vaidehi
• vaidehi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8 विभक्ति/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• paripṛcchasi: you ask (in detail)
• paripṛcchasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√prach (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhartuḥ: of (your) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6 विभक्ति/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kamala-pattrākṣi: O lotus-petal-eyed (lady)
• kamala-pattrākṣi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala + pattra + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose eyes are like lotus-petals’), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃsthānam: form, build
• saṃsthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2 विभक्ति/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣmaṇasya: of Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6 विभक्ति/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

Context

"O Vaidehi with eyes like lotus petals! although you know your husband's and Lakshmana's form and distinguishing marks, it is my good fortune that you asked me(to describe them).

Characters & Entities

• Sita (Vaidehi)
• Rama (as bhartṛ)
• Lakshmana
• Hanuman

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent verification: even in distress, Sītā seeks truthful confirmation, and Hanumān respects that careful discernment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā questions Hanumān about Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s identifying features; Hanumān welcomes this as a fortunate opportunity to establish truth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viveka (discernment) in Sītā and satya-niṣṭhā (commitment to truth) in Hanumān as he prepares to answer.