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

സന്ധ്യാകാലചിന്തയിൽ ലീനയായ ശ്യാമളയായ ജാനകി നിശ്ചയമായും വരും; സന്ധ്യാവന്ദനം നിർവഹിക്കാനായി ശുഭജലമുള്ള ഈ നദിയിലേക്കു ആ വരവർണിനി എത്തും.

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.