Shloka 61
Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Indra’s Intended Request
Kuṇḍala–Kavaca Discourse
लंकामें पहुँचकर रावणके अन्तःपुरमें मैंने सती सीताका दर्शन किया, जो अपने पतिदेवताके दर्शनकी लालसासे निरन्तर उपवास और तपस्या किया करती हैं ।। जटिला मलदिग्धाड्ी कृशा दीना तपस्विनी । निमित्तैस्तामहं सीतामुपलभ्य पृथग्विधै:,“उनके केश जटाके रूपमें परिणत हो गये थे। अंग-अंगमें मैल जम गयी थी। वे दीन, दुर्बल और तपस्विनी दिखायी देती थीं। कई भिन्न-भिन्न कारणोंसे उन्हें आर्या सीताके रूपमें पहचानकर मैं एकान्तमें उनके निकट गया और इस प्रकार बोला--'देवि सीते! मैं श्रीरामचन्द्रजीका दूत पवनपुत्र हनुमान् नामक वानर हूँ
jaṭilā maladigdhāṅgī kṛśā dīnā tapasvinī | nimittais tām ahaṃ sītām upalabhya pṛthagvidhaiḥ ||
Markandeya said: “There I found Sītā—her hair matted into tangled locks, her limbs smeared with grime, emaciated and forlorn, yet steadfast in austerity. By various signs I recognized her as Sītā, and approaching her in private, I spoke to her.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even under extreme adversity, steadfastness in dharma—expressed here as Sītā’s disciplined endurance and ascetic restraint—preserves inner integrity; outward degradation does not diminish moral stature.
The speaker describes encountering Sītā in a severely weakened, ascetic state and recognizing her through multiple identifying signs, then approaching her privately to address her.