Shloka 21

सप्तदशः सर्गः

Hanuman Beholds Sita in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

राक्षसाधिपसंरुद्धां बन्धुभिश्च विना कृताम्।।।।वियूथां सिंहसंरुद्धां बद्धां गजवधूमिव।

Transliteration

rākṣasādhipasaṃruddhāṃ bandhubhiś ca vinā kṛtām |

viyūthāṃ siṃhasaṃruddhāṃ baddhāṃ gajavadhūm iva ||5.17.21||

Translation

羅刹の王に囲まれ、身内から引き離されて、群れを失い獅子に迫られる、縛られた雌象のように見えた。

Word by Word

• राक्षसाधिपसंरुद्धाम्: confined by the lord of demons
• राक्षसाधिपसंरुद्धाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक) + संरुद्ध (कृदन्त; धातु रुध् with सम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः: राक्षसाधिपेन संरुद्धा

• बन्धुभिः: by/with kinsmen
• बन्धुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/करण) with विना
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• विना: without
• विना: अपादानार्थ/वियोग (separation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition): वियोगार्थक; तृतीया-सम्बन्धः

• कृताम्: made/left (so)
• कृताम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle): कृता (made/placed)

• वियूथाम्: separated from the herd
• वियूथाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + यूथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-रहित उपसर्गयुक्त: वियूथा = यूथात् वियुक्ता

• सिंहसंरुद्धाम्: beset by lions
• सिंहसंरुद्धाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + संरुद्ध (कृदन्त; धातु रुध् with सम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः: सिंहैः संरुद्धा

• बद्धाम्: bound/fettered
• बद्धाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle): बद्धा

• गजवधूम्: a female elephant
• गजवधूम्: उपमान (Upamāna/उपमान) with इव
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गजस्य वधूः

• इव: like
• इव: उपमावाचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

Context

Besieged by the demon king, deprived of her near and dear ones, Sita was looking like a fettered female elephant separated from its herd and besieged by lions.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa (implied by “rākṣasādhipa”)

FAQs

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

Adharma is the abuse of power—isolating and coercing the innocent. Dharma demands protection of the helpless and resistance to tyranny.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān recognizes Sītā’s isolation in Laṅkā and the predatory threat posed by her captors.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dignity under duress, and implicitly Rāma’s duty as protector-husband that motivates the rescue.