Shloka 20

सप्तदशः सर्गः

Hanuman Beholds Sita in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

चारित्रव्यपदेशाढ्यां भर्तृदर्शनदुर्गताम्।।।।भूषणैरुत्तमैर्हीनां भर्तृवात्सल्यभूषणाम्।

Transliteration

cāritravyapadeśāḍhyāṃ bhartṛdarśanadurgatām |

bhūṣaṇair uttamair hīnāṃ bhartṛvātsalyabhūṣaṇām ||5.17.20||

Translation

清らかな行いで名高いのに、夫に会えぬ思いに苦しんでいた。優れた飾りを失っても、主君への愛と貞節こそが真の飾りであった。

Word by Word

• चारित्रव्यपदेशाढ्याम्: rich in reputation for chastity
• चारित्रव्यपदेशाढ्याम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यपदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: चारित्रस्य व्यपदेशेन (कीर्त्या) आढ्या

• भर्तृदर्शनदुर्गताम्: distressed for want of seeing her husband
• भर्तृदर्शनदुर्गताम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्गता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भर्तुः दर्शनं प्रति दुर्गता (दुःस्थितिम् आपन्ना)

• भूषणैः: by/with ornaments
• भूषणैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण) with हीनाम्
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• उत्तमैः: excellent
• उत्तमैः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; भूषणैः इति विशेषणम्

• हीनाम्: deprived (of)
• हीनाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-सम्बन्धः: भूषणैः हीना

• भर्तृवात्सल्यभूषणाम्: adorned with her husband's affection (as ornament)
• भर्तृवात्सल्यभूषणाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + वात्सल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भर्तुः वात्सल्यं भूषणं यस्याः सा

Context

She was rich by her reputation for chastity but poor as she yearned to see her husband. Though devoid of all excellent ornaments, she looked adorned with love for her husband.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma (implied by “husband”)

FAQs

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

True worth is ethical, not material: ornaments can be taken away, but satya and chastity remain the real ‘adornment’ of a righteous person.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān observes Sītā closely and recognizes her inner nobility despite her outward deprivation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fidelity and moral radiance: her love for Rāma functions as her enduring ornament.