Shloka 5.11.46

रावणान्तःपुर-पानभूमि-विचयः (Hanumān’s Survey of Rāvaṇa’s Inner Palace and Banquet Hall)

Devanagari script

तामपश्यन्कपिस्तत्र पश्यञ्श्चान्या परस्त्रियः।।5.11.46।।अपक्रम्य तदा वीरः प्रध्यातुमुपचक्रमे।

Transliteration

yasya sattvasya yā yoniḥ tasyāṃ tat parimārgyate |

na śakyā pramadā naṣṭā mṛgīṣu parimārgitum || 5.11.43 ||

Translation

Whatever a being’s proper kind and origin may be, it is there that it must be searched for; a lost woman cannot be sought among female deer.

Context

Heroic Hanuman, unable to find Sita among the women, moved aside and started thinking.

Characters & Entities

• Sita

FAQs

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

Dharma as discernment (viveka): truth-seeking requires proper categories and evidence—one must search in the right domain rather than act on confusion or impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman justifies focusing his search within the women’s quarters, using an analogy about searching by species.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Clarity of judgment and methodical thinking—Hanuman applies logic to serve a righteous goal.