Valmiki Ramayana 5.16.2 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 2

षोडशः सर्गः (Sarga 16): Hanumān’s Recognition of Sītā and Renewed Lament

Devanagari script

स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः।सीतामाश्रित्य तेजस्वी हनूमान्विललाप ह।।5.16.2।।

Transliteration

sa muhūrtam iva dhyātvā bāṣpa-paryākulekṣaṇaḥ | sītām āśritya tejasvī hanūmān vilalāpa ha ||5.16.2||

Translation

Hanumān yang bercahaya sejenak termenung; matanya keruh oleh air mata. Dengan hati berpaut pada Sītā, ia pun meratap.

Word by Word

• प्रशस्य: having praised
• प्रशस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-śaṃs (शंस्-धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-अर्थे अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive: having praised)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अनुवादक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• प्रशस्तव्याम्: praiseworthy
• प्रशस्तव्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-śas (शस्/शंस्-धातु) + tavya (तव्यत्; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: worthy to be praised); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हरिपुङ्गवः: best of monkeys (Hanuman)
• हरिपुङ्गवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'हरीणां पुंगवः'

• गुणाभिरामम्: charming through virtues
• गुणाभिरामम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhirāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (instrumental sense: 'गुणैः अभिरामः'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (again)

• चिन्तापरः: absorbed in anxiety
• चिन्तापरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cintā (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'चिन्तायां परः' (intent on worry)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू-धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

"This celebrated lady is the eldest daughter-in-law of the noble, valiant king Dasaratha who never returned from the battle-ground without being victorious.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Sita

FAQs

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

Compassion aligned with duty: Hanuman’s tears are not weakness but moral sensitivity, showing that righteous service (dharma) includes empathetic awareness of another’s suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

In Lanka’s Aśoka grove, Hanuman has found Sita and, seeing her distress, briefly reflects and laments before deciding how to act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) joined with tejas (moral strength and clarity), indicating a servant of dharma who feels deeply yet remains purposeful.