Shloka 57

सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः

हनुमद्वृत्तान्तकथनम्, सीताभिज्ञान-प्रदानम्, लङ्कादाह-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

अदूरे शिंशुपावृक्षात्पश्यामि वरवर्णिनीम्।।5.58.55।।श्यामां कमलपत्राक्षीमुपवासकृशाननाम्।तदेकवासस्संवीतां रजोध्वस्तशिरोरुहाम्।।5.58.56।।शोकसन्तापदीनाङ्गीं सीतां भर्तृहिते स्थिताम्।राक्षसीभिर्विरूपाभिः क्रूराभिरभिसंवृताम्।।5.58.57।।मांसशोणितभक्षाभिर्व्याघ्रीभिर्हरिणीमिव।

Transliteration

śokasantāpadīnāṅgīṃ sītāṃ bhartṛhite sthitām |

rākṣasībhir virūpābhiḥ krūrābhir abhisaṃvṛtām || 5.58.57 ||

māṃsaśoṇitabhakṣābhir vyāghrībhir hariṇīm iva |

Translation

Sītā, deren Glieder durch Kummer und Qual geschwächt waren, blieb unbeirrbar dem Wohl ihres Gemahls zugewandt; doch umringten sie entstellte, grausame Rākṣasīs, Fleisch- und Blutverzehrerinnen — wie eine Hirschkuh, von Tigerinnen umstellt.

Word by Word

• शोकसन्तापदीनाङ्गीम्: whose limbs were weak from grief and anguish
• शोकसन्तापदीनाङ्गीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक-सन्ताप-दीन-अङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (sītām)

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भर्तृहिते: in her husband's interest
• भर्तृहिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ-हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in the welfare of (her) husband’

• स्थिताम्: standing/remaining
• स्थिताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (sītām)

• राक्षसीभिः: by demonesses
• राक्षसीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विरूपाभिः: ugly
• विरूपाभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (rākṣasībhiḥ)

• क्रूराभिः: cruel
• क्रूराभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (rākṣasībhiḥ)

• अभिसंवृताम्: surrounded
• अभिसंवृताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-सम्-वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (sītām)

• मांसशोणितभक्षाभिः: feeding on flesh and blood
• मांसशोणितभक्षाभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांस-शोणित-भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (vyāghrībhiḥ)

• व्याघ्रीभिः: by tigresses
• व्याघ्रीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• हरिणीम्: a doe
• हरिणीम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान (object of iva-comparison)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

Context

"Not far from the Simsupa tree I saw beautiful Sita, of dark complexion, with eyes like lotus petals, whose face was emaciated due to fasting, wearing only a single sari (the same one since her abduction) her locks filled with dust, pathetic looking, immersed in sorrow, meditating on her husband seated like a doe encircled by tigresses, surrounded by ugly and cruel shedemons fed on flesh and blood.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• rākṣasī (demonesses)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is constancy in righteousness: Sītā maintains fidelity and moral purpose (bhartṛ-hita) even when surrounded by violence and intimidation.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān describes Sītā’s condition in captivity—physically weakened by grief, yet morally unbroken—while demonesses guard and threaten her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfastness (dhṛti) and loyalty—her refusal to abandon righteousness despite extreme fear and isolation.