Shloka 7

Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 32

Sītā’s Perplexity and Recognition of Hanumān

Devanagari script

सा वीक्षमाणा पृथुभुग्नवक्त्रं शाखामृगेन्द्रस्य यथोक्तकारम्।ददर्श पिङ्गाधिपते रमात्यं वातात्मजं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम्।।।।

Transliteration

sā vīkṣamāṇā pṛthubhugnavaktraṁ śākhāmṛgendrasya yathoktākāram |

dadarśa piṅgādhipateḥ amātyaṁ vātātmajaṁ buddhimatāṁ variṣṭham ||

Translation

見回すうちに、彼女は風神の子を見た。体は大きく、顔はやや曲がり、黄褐の猿王に仕える従順な臣であり大臣、知恵ある者の中の第一であった。

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• samīkṣya: having looked at
• samīkṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), from √ईक्ष् with उपसर्ग सम्-; 'having looked at'

• eva: indeed
• eva: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphasis: 'indeed/just')

• bhṛśam: greatly
• bhṛśam: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'greatly')

• visaṃjñā: unconscious
• visaṃjñā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास/निर्माण: वि- (prefix) + संज्ञा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of sā/sītā

• gatāsu-kalpena: as if lifeless
• gatāsu-kalpena: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata-asu-kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: गत (ppp from √गम्) + असु (life-breath) + कल्प (like/as if) (तत्पुरुष: 'like one whose life has gone'); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; adverbial instrumental 'as if dead'

• babhūva: became/was
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम; √भू

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (apposition to sā)

• cireṇa: after a long time
• cireṇa: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कालवाचक तृतीया (instrumental of time: 'after a long time')

• saṃjñām: consciousness/senses
• saṃjñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pratilabhya: having regained
• pratilabhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-labh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), from √लभ् with उपसर्ग प्रति-; 'having regained'

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'again/further')

• vicintayāmāsa: began to reflect
• vicintayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-cint (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect) periphrastic, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √चिन्त् with वि-

• viśālanetrā: large-eyed (Sita)
• viśālanetrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāla-netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: विशाल + नेत्र (कर्मधारय: 'large-eyed'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet of sītā

Context

Astonisted Mythili began thinking. 'Oh! this vanara's appearance is frightening. He is terrible to look at. He is inaccessible'. Thinking over this again and again, she fainted.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān (Vātātmaja)
• Vāyu (Wind-god)

FAQs

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

Dharma in service: Hanumān is portrayed as yathoktākāra—one who faithfully carries out rightful commands—showing disciplined loyalty aligned with a just mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā observes and identifies the newcomer’s stature and credentials: a wise minister-servant, not a random intruder.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s बुद्धि (wisdom) and responsible service.