Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 17

सुन्‍दरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

ततस्सा वक्रकेशान्ता सुकेशी केशसंवृतम्।।।।उन्नम्य वदनं भीरुश्शिंशुपावृक्षमैक्षत।

Transliteration

tatas sā vakrakeśāntā sukeśī keśasaṃvṛtam |

unnamya vadanaṃ bhīruḥ śiṃśupāvṛkṣam aikṣata ||

Translation

Alors cette Dame timide, aux beaux cheveux dont les pointes se recourbaient, releva son visage, voilé par sa chevelure, et regarda vers l’arbre śiṃśupā.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

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

• वक्र-केश-अन्ता: with curled hair-ends
• वक्र-केश-अन्ता: विशेषण (Qualifier of sā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; बहुव्रीहि-समास (वक्राः केशानाम् अन्ताः यस्याः = whose hair-ends are curled)

• सु-केशी: fair-haired
• सु-केशी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्गवत्) + केशिन्/केशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्मधारय-समास (सुकेशी = having good/beautiful hair)

• केश-संवृतम्: covered by (hanging) hair
• केश-संवृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of vadanaṃ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) + संवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समास (केशैः संवृतम् = covered by hair); वदनम् इति विशेषण

• उन्नम्य: having lifted/raised
• उन्नम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having raised'

• वदनम्: face
• वदनम्: कर्म (Object of unnamya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• भीरुः: timid
• भीरुः: विशेषण (Qualifier of sā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सा इति विशेषण

• शिंशुपा-वृक्षम्: the Simsupa tree
• शिंशुपा-वृक्षम्: कर्म (Object of aikṣata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिंशुपा (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिंशुपायाः वृक्षः)

• ऐक्षत: looked at
• ऐक्षत: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

On hearing Hanuman's words Sita looked at all directions and quarters while quietly contemplating on Rama, the self of all and experienced supreme joy.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Śiṃśupā tree

FAQs

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

Dharma here is inner steadiness under suffering: Sītā remains cautious and composed, not reckless, even when hope arises.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing the reassuring words, Sītā carefully looks up toward the śiṃśupā tree, searching for the speaker.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s prudence and resilience in captivity.