Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 23

हनूमत्सीतासंवादः

Hanuman’s Offer of Rescue and Sita’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

त्वद्दर्शनकृतोत्साहमाश्रमस्थं महाबलम्।पुरन्दरमिवासीनं नागराजस्य मूर्धनि।।।।

Transliteration

tvaddarśanakṛtotsāham āśramasthaṃ mahābalam |

purandaram ivāsīnaṃ nāgarājasya mūrdhani ||

Translation

Der mächtige Rāma, der im Āśrama weilt, wird durch deinen Anblick zu neuem Mut erweckt—wie Purandara (Indra), der auf dem Rücken des Herrn der Elefanten sitzt.

Word by Word

• त्वत्-दर्शन-कृत-उत्साहम्: whose zeal is aroused by seeing you
• त्वत्-दर्शन-कृत-उत्साहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त, कृ धातोः क्त) + utsāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समूह (त्वद्दर्शनात् कृतः उत्साहः यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘(राघवम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आश्रमस्थम्: staying in the hermitage
• आश्रमस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (आश्रमेषु स्थितः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• महाबलम्: mighty/very strong
• महाबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महद् बलं यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पुरन्दरम्: Indra (Purandara)
• पुरन्दरम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमान

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (simile marker)

• आसीनम्: seated
• आसीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ās (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) ‘seated’; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘(राघवम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• नागराजस्य: of the king of elephants
• नागराजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāgarāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नागानां राजा); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• मूर्धनि: on the head
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

Context

Mighty Rama staying in asram ill be enthused to see you seated on my back like Lord Purandara (Indra) seated on the back of the lord of elephants (Airavata)

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Rāma
• Āśrama (hermitage)
• Purandara (Indra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by hope and rightful courage: reunion strengthens the righteous leader to act decisively against injustice without losing moral restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues persuading Sītā that her return will reinvigorate Rāma, using Indra’s majestic image to convey restored sovereignty and confidence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s inner strength that returns with rightful purpose—courage grounded in love and duty rather than anger or vengeance.