Shloka 5.15.38

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम् (Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove)

Devanagari script

तस्य संदिदिहे बुद्धिर्मुहुः सीतां निरीक्ष्य तु।आम्नायानामयोगेन विद्यां प्रशिथिलामिव।।।।

Transliteration

tasya saṃdidihe buddhir muhuḥ sītāṃ nirīkṣya tu | āmnāyānām ayogena vidyāṃ praśithilām iva ||

Translation

Though he looked upon Sītā again and again, his mind wavered in doubt—like knowledge from sacred tradition grown slack for want of practice.

Context

Hanuman did recognise Sita after looking at her carefully again and again even as one is able to make out knowledge of shastric-lore forgotten with lapse of time and lack of practice.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma values careful verification aligned with Satya: Hanumān does not act on haste; he seeks certainty before speaking or intervening.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān, seeing Sītā’s changed appearance from suffering, momentarily doubts and re-checks to confirm her identity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and truth-seeking—Hanumān’s disciplined caution before action.