Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 1

हनूमत्सीतासंवादः

Hanuman’s Offer of Rescue and Sita’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

सीता तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना।हनूमन्तमुवाचेदं धर्मार्थसहितं वचः।।।।

Transliteration

sītā tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā pūrṇa-candra-nibhānanā | hanūmantam uvācedaṃ dharmārtha-sahitaṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

ເມື່ອນາງສີຕາ ຜູ້ມີໃບໜ້າດັ່ງພະຈັນເຕັມດວງ ໄດ້ຟັງຖ້ອຍຄຳນັ້ນແລ້ວ ນາງຈຶ່ງກ່າວຕໍ່ພະຫນຸມານ ດ້ວຍວາຈາອັນສອດຄ່ອງກັບທຳມະ ແລະເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍປັນຍາແຫ່ງເປົ້າໝາຍ

Word by Word

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tat-vacanam: that statement
• tat-vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'tasya vacanam' (that speech)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā-hetu (क्रियाहेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā (absolutive), avyaya; prior action

• pūrṇa-candra-nibhā-ānanā: whose face is like the full moon
• pūrṇa-candra-nibhā-ānanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa + candra + nibhā + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: 'pūrṇacandra-sadṛśam ānanaṃ yasyāḥ sā'

• hanūmantam: Hanuman
• hanūmantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanūmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vacaḥ (this speech)

• dharma-artha-sahitam: endowed with righteousness and purpose
• dharma-artha-sahitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + artha + sahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vacaḥ; dvandva in base 'dharmārthau' + sahita (endowed with)

• vacaḥ: speech / words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; object of uvāca

Context

To the righteous words (about Rama's grief) of Hanuman, Sita with a face like the full moon replied :

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Hanuman
• Dharma
• Artha

FAQs

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

Speech guided by dharma and artha: the Ramayana repeatedly frames ideal conduct as words that are both righteous (dharma) and purposeful/beneficial (artha), not merely emotional.

What is the narrative situation?

A transition verse: after Hanumān’s report, Sītā prepares to reply with counsel that is ethically grounded and practically meaningful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s discernment (viveka): even under suffering, she speaks in a principled and purposeful manner.