Shloka 5.34.23

सीताहनूमद्भाषणम् — Sita Tests the Messenger; Hanuman Offers Reassurance

Devanagari script

किन्नु स्याचित्तमोहोऽयं भवेद्वातगतिस्त्वियम्।।।।उन्मादजो विकारो वा स्यादियं मृगतृष्णिका।

Transliteration

kinnu syācittamoho 'yaṃ bhaved vātagatis tv iyam | unmādajo vikāro vā syād iyaṃ mṛgatṛṣṇikā ||

Translation

What then is this—delusion of the mind? Or could it be a disturbance of the inner winds? Or a change born of madness? Or is it only a mirage, a mṛgatṛṣṇikā?

Context

"Can this be a delusion of my mind or a mental imbalance (resulting in movement of the mind in the body). Is it a malady born of my madness? Or is it a mirage?

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is intellectual honesty: Sītā recognizes the possibility of self-deception and tests her own perception, seeking satya rather than comforting illusion.

What is the narrative situation?

Overwhelmed by sudden hope, Sītā suspects her perception may be distorted—delusion, illness, madness, or mirage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s self-scrutiny and truth-seeking: she does not immediately trust her senses in a hostile environment.