Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 49

अशोकवनिकाविचारः

Survey of the Aśoka Grove and its Enchanted Landscape

Devanagari script

सन्ध्याकालमनाः श्यामा ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी।नदीं चेमां शुभजलां सन्ध्यार्थे वरवर्णिनी।।।।

Transliteration

sandhyākālamanāḥ śyāmā dhruvam eṣyati jānakī | nadīṃ cemāṃ śubhajalāṃ sandhyārthe varavarṇinī ||

Translation

黄昏の時を思い定めたジャーナキー――黒みを帯びつつも麗しき佳人――は、夕べの儀礼を行うため、吉祥なる水をたたえるこの川へ必ずや来るであろう。

Word by Word

• sandhyā-kāla-manāḥ: mindful of twilight-time
• sandhyā-kāla-manāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of jānakī
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; bahuvrīhi: sandhyākāle manaḥ yasyāḥ (one whose mind is on twilight-time)

• śyāmā: dark-complexioned, lovely
• śyāmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruvam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya usage (accusative neuter used adverbially); certainty adverb

• eṣyati: will come
• eṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (future); Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana

• jānakī: Jānakī
• jānakī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• nadīm: river
• nadīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• imām: this
• imām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of nadīm
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• śubha-jalām: with auspicious water
• śubha-jalām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of nadīm
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; karmadhāraya: śubhaṃ jalaṃ yasyāḥ (having auspicious water)

• sandhyā-arthe: for the twilight-rite
• sandhyā-arthe: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ-liṅga, Saptamī (locative), Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: sandhyāyāḥ arthaḥ (purpose of twilight-rite); locative of purpose (अर्थे)

• vara-varṇinī: the fair-complexioned lady
• vara-varṇinī: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; karmadhāraya: varaḥ varṇaḥ yasyāḥ (of excellent complexion)

Context

Surely that lady of lovely complexion, the beautiful Janaki will come to this riverflowing with sacred waters for performing the evening rituals.

Characters & Entities

• Jānakī (Sītā)
• river (nadī)
• sandhyā (twilight rite)

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast observance of sacred duty: even in captivity and grief, Sītā is envisioned as maintaining sandhyā-practice, embodying truthfulness and discipline.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān anticipates that Sītā may come to the river at twilight to perform the customary evening observances, offering him a chance to see her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Religious discipline and inner purity: commitment to daily rite despite external suffering.