Shloka 31

सीताप्रत्यय-प्रदानम्

Sita’s Recognition and Reassurance by the Envoy

Devanagari script

इतीव देवी वचनं महार्थं तं वानरेन्द्रं मधुरार्थमुक्त्वा।श्रोतुं पुनस्तस्य वचोऽभिरामं रामार्थयुक्तं विरराम रामा।।।।

Transliteration

itīva devī vacanaṁ mahārthaṁ taṁ vānarendraṁ madhurārtham uktvā | śrotuṁ punas tasya vaco 'bhirāmaṁ rāmārthayuktaṁ virarāma rāmā ||

Translation

So sprach die göttliche Sītā zum Herrn der Vānara Worte von großer Bedeutung und süßem Klang und verstummte dann wieder, in dem Wunsch, erneut seine liebliche Rede zu hören, erfüllt von Kunde über Rāma.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति)

• iva: as it were
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating "as if/so to speak"

• devī: the queen (Sita)
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• mahārtham: highly meaningful
• mahārtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; karmadhāraya: mahā (great) + artha (meaning)

• tam: that (him)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vānarendram: the vanara chief
• vānarendram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: vānara (monkey) + indra (chief)

• madhurārtham: sweet in import
• madhurārtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; karmadhāraya: madhura (sweet) + artha (sense)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: uktvā (कृदन्त; √vac वचने, ktvā)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śrotum (कृदन्त; √śru श्रवणे, तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (vacas- stem)

• abhirāmam: pleasing
• abhirāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhirāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying vacaḥ

• rāmārthayuktam: connected with Rama's purpose
• rāmārthayuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma-artha-yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa chain: rāma (Rama) + artha (purpose) + yukta (connected)

• virarāma: ceased/stopped
• virarāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ram (धातु; विरमे)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• rāmā: Rama's beloved (Sita)
• rāmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; epithet/name of Sita

Context

The god-like lady, having spoken to the vanara leader in a very meaningful and sweet manner about her beloved Rama, she remained silent, waiting to hear Hanuman'sattractive words of description of Rama once again.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Rāmā)
• Hanumān (vānarendra as addressed)
• Rāma
• vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined speech and purposeful communication: words should be meaningful, sweet, and aligned with a righteous goal (here, reunion with Rāma).

What is the narrative situation?

After speaking, Sītā pauses, eager to hear Hanumān further describe Rāma and the efforts being made for her rescue.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s restraint and attentive devotion—she values truthful, purposeful words about dharma and her rightful reunion.