Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 15

सुन्‍दरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः

Hanuman’s Sweet Address to Sita and Sita’s Recognition

Devanagari script

यथारूपां यथावर्णां यथालक्ष्मीवतीं च निश्चिताम्।।।।अश्रौषं राघवस्याहं सेयमासादिता मया।

Transliteration

yathārūpāṃ yathāvarṇāṃ yathālakṣmīvatīṃ ca niścitām |

aśrauṣaṃ rāghavasyāhaṃ seyam āsāditā mayā ||

Translation

Comme je l’avais entendu de Rāghava—sa forme, son teint, son éclat et sa beauté—ainsi est-elle vraiment ; je l’ai trouvée ici.

Word by Word

• यथा-रूपाम्: as to form (as described)
• यथा-रूपाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of niścitām)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; अव्ययीभाव-समास (यथारूपा = of such a form/as described)

• यथा-वर्णाम्: as to complexion
• यथा-वर्णाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; अव्ययीभाव-समास

• यथा-लक्ष्मीवतीम्: as to radiance/fortune
• यथा-लक्ष्मीवतीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + लक्ष्मीवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; अव्ययीभाव-समास

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• निश्चिताम्: ascertained
• निश्चिताम्: कर्म (Object; understood 'tām')
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√चि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय, द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; 'ascertained/identified'

• अश्रौषम्: I heard
• अश्रौषम्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राघवस्य: of Raghava (Rama)
• राघवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Subject; in next clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• इयम्: this very (one)
• इयम्: कर्ता (Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सैव इयम् (emphatic identification)

• आसादिता: has been found
• आसादिता: क्रिया (Predicate participle; passive sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय, प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; 'found/reached'

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृकरणे (agent in passive)

Context

Having spoken thus, the great vanara stopped speaking after that. Janaki was wonder-struck by the words of the vanara.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness) and reliability: Hanumān grounds his claim in verifiable description received from Rāma, avoiding deception.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān confirms to Sītā that he has identified her exactly as Rāma described.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s careful discernment and truthful speech meant to reassure without exaggeration.