Shloka 5.58.59

सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः — हनुमद्वृत्तान्तकथनम्, सीताभिज्ञान-प्रदानम्, लङ्कादाह-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

सा मया राक्षसीमध्ये तर्ज्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः।।5.58.58।।एकवेणीधरा दीना भर्तृचिन्तापरायणा।भूमिशय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमागमे।।5.58.59।।रावणाद्विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्यकृतनिश्चया।कथञ्चिन्मृगशाबाक्षी तूर्णमासादिता मया।।5.58.60।।

Transliteration

ekaveṇīdharā dīnā bhartṛcintāparāyaṇā |

bhūmiśayyā vivarṇāṅgī padminīva himāgame || 5.58.59 ||

Translation

With her hair in a single braid, wretched and wholly absorbed in thoughts of her husband, she lay upon the bare ground—her body grown pale, like a lotus at the coming of winter.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as unwavering marital fidelity and mental steadiness: even in captivity, Sītā’s mind remains aligned with righteousness and remembrance of Rāma.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān describes Sītā’s austere state in the Aśoka grove—hair unadorned, sleeping on the ground, weakened by separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dhṛti (fortitude) and śauca (purity)—a refusal to be drawn into the captor’s world of comfort or compromise.