Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 60

हनूमत्सीतासंवादः

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

Devanagari script

भर्तुर्भक्तिं पुरस्कृत्य रामादन्यस्य वानर।न स्पृशामि शरीरं तु पुंसो वानरपुङ्गव।।।।

Transliteration

bhartur bhaktiṃ puraskṛtya rāmād anyasya vānara | na spṛśāmi śarīraṃ tu puṃso vānarapuṅgava ||

Translation

O Führer der Vānaras, meine Treue zu meinem Gemahl voranstellend, werde ich den Leib keines Mannes berühren außer Rāma, o erhabener Vānara.

Word by Word

• bhartuḥ: of (my) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• bhaktim: devotion
• bhaktim: Karma (कर्म/Object of puraskṛtya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• puraskṛtya: having kept foremost
• puraskṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: puraskṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): puraskṛtya; indeclinable verbal form meaning "having placed in front/keeping foremost"

• rāmāt: from Rama
• rāmāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (Ablative, 5th), Ekavacana

• anyasya: of another
• anyasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; with puṃsaḥ (genitive) = "of another man"

• vānara: O monkey
• vānara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• spṛśāmi: I touch
• spṛśāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present, लट्), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• śarīram: body
• śarīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• tu: indeed; but
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis/contrast

• puṃsaḥ: of a man
• puṃsaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• vānarapuṅgava: O chief of monkeys
• vānarapuṅgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदik) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: vānara-puṅgava; Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

Context

"O chief of vanaras! I cherish my devotion towards Rama alone and not touch the body of any other man.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Pativratā-dharma (marital fidelity) and personal integrity: Sītā asserts moral boundaries grounded in devotion and truthfulness.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā clarifies to Hanumān why she will not accept any alternative arrangement that compromises her exclusive fidelity to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s chastity and steadfastness—her identity is anchored in dharma rather than fear or convenience.