Shloka 5.5.23

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम् — Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

न त्वेव सीतां परमाभिजातां पथि स्थिते राजकुले प्रजाताम्।लतां प्रपुल्लामिव साधु जातां ददर्श तन्वीं मनसाभिजाताम्।।5.5.23।।

Transliteration

na tv eva sītāṃ paramābhijātāṃ pathi sthite rāja-kule prajātām | latāṃ prapullām iva sādhu-jātāṃ dadarśa tanvīṃ manasābhijātām ||5.5.23||

Translation

But he did not see Sītā—of most noble birth, born in a royal house and steadfast on the path of dharma—slender as a blossoming creeper, pure-born, just as he had envisioned her in his mind.

Context

Hanuman could not find Sita anywhere, an excellent lady born in a noble royal family, adopting the right path, a lady delicate like a blossoming creeper of good breed, or so he imagined.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Sītā is defined by dharma: noble birth is paired with ‘abiding on the right path,’ presenting righteousness and integrity as her essential identity beyond physical description.

What is the narrative situation?

After seeing many women in Laṅkā, Hanumān still does not find Sītā and reflects on her ideal qualities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast righteousness (dharma-niṣṭhā), implied through her ‘right-path’ conduct and purity.