Valmiki Ramayana 1.1.73: Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 73

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

तत्र लङ्कां समासाद्य पुरीं रावणपालिताम् ।ददर्श सीतां ध्यायन्तीमशोकवनिकां गताम् ।।।।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.1.73

Transliteration

tatra laṅkāṃ samāsādya purīṃ rāvaṇapālitām |

dadarśa sītāṃ dhyāyantīm aśokavanikāṃ gatām ||

Translation

वहाँ पहुँच के उसने लंका देखी, जो रावन की नगरी थी। अशोक के बाग में उसने सीता को देखा, वो राघव को याद कर रही थी।

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Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• laṅkām: Laṅkā
• laṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• samāsādya: having reached
• samāsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having reached/approached’

• purīm: city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; apposition to laṅkām

• rāvaṇapālitām: ruled by Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇapālitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāvaṇa + pālita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: ‘rāvaṇena pālitā’); Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying purīm/laṅkām

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• sītām: Sītā
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• dhyāyantīm: meditating/thinking
• dhyāyantīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying sītām

• aśokavanikām: Aśoka grove
• aśokavanikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśoka + vanikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘aśokasya vanikā’); Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• gatām: gone (to)
• gatām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying sītām

Context

Hanuman arrived at the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana and found Sita in the Ashoka garden meditating on Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Aśokavanikā (Aśoka grove)
• Rāma (implicit object of meditation)

FAQs

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

Dharma is inner fidelity under coercion: Sītā’s steadfast focus on Rāma reflects unwavering commitment to truth and marital righteousness despite captivity.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān enters Laṅkā and locates Sītā in the Aśoka grove, where she remains absorbed in remembrance of Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dhairya (fortitude) and satya-niṣṭhā (devotion to truth and rightful bond).