Shloka 5.15.26
अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम् (Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove)
तां समीक्ष्य विशालाक्षीमधिकं मलिनां कृशाम्।।।।तर्कयामास सीतेति कारणैरुपपादिभिः।
tāṃ samīkṣya viśālākṣīm adhikaṃ malināṃ kṛśām |
tarkayāmāsa sīteti kāraṇair upapādibhiḥ ||
Having examined that large-eyed woman—soiled and exceedingly thin—Hanumān reasoned from well-grounded signs and concluded, “This indeed is Sītā.”
After seeing the large-eyed lady worn out and dressed in soiled clothes, Hanuman started deliberating in himself and guessed it was Sita for strong reasons.
Righteous action must be guided by careful discernment and truth: Hanumān does not act on impulse but verifies identity through reliable indications, aligning conduct with satya.
After locating the captive woman in Aśoka-vana, Hanumān scrutinizes her features and condition to confirm she is Sītā.
Hanumān’s prudence and responsibility: he seeks certainty before proceeding, showing disciplined intelligence in service of dharma.