Shloka 5

षोडशः सर्गः (Sarga 16): Hanumān’s Recognition of Sītā and Renewed Lament

Devanagari script

तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्तां तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम्।राघवोऽऽर्हति वैदेहीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा।।5.16.5।।

Transliteration

tulyaśīlavayovṛttāṃ tulyābhijanalakṣaṇām |

rāghavo'rhati vaidehīṃ taṃ ceyam asitekṣaṇā ||5.16.5||

Translation

ശീലം, വയസ്, ആചാരം എന്നിവയിൽ സമതുല്യയും, കുലവും മംഗളലക്ഷണങ്ങളും ഒത്തവളുമായ വൈദേഹിക്കു രാഘവൻ യോജ്യൻ; അതുപോലെ ഈ അസിതേക്ഷണിയും അവനു യോജ്യയാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्ताम्: matching in character, age, and conduct
• तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य-शील-वयस्-वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: तुल्य + शील + वयस् + वृत्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम्: matching in noble birth and auspicious marks
• तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य-अभिजन-लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: तुल्य + अभिजन + लक्षण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अर्हति: deserves / is worthy of
• अर्हति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वैदेहीम्: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेहीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इयम्: this (lady)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• असितेक्षणा: black-eyed (lady)
• असितेक्षणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित-ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: असित + ईक्षण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (इयम् इति)

Context

Sita who is endowed with beautiful dark hair and eyes like a hundred-petalled lotus, who deserves to be happy is in sorrow. I grieve to see her in this state.

Characters & Entities

• Raghava (Rama)
• Vaidehi (Sita)

FAQs

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

It affirms the dharmic ideal of marriage as a partnership of equal virtues—compatibility in character and conduct, not merely external status.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman, assessing Sītā’s identity and nobility, reflects on the fitting union of Rāma and Sītā to confirm she truly is Vaidehī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The exemplary harmony of Rāma and Sītā—integrity, noble conduct, and suitability in dharma.