Shloka 1

सुन्‍दरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः

Hanuman’s Sweet Address to Sita and Sita’s Recognition

Devanagari script

एवं बहुविधां चिन्तां चिन्तयित्वा महाकपिः।संश्रवे मधुरं वाक्यं वैदेह्या व्याजहार ह।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ bahuvidhāṃ cintāṃ cintayitvā mahākapiḥ |

saṃśrave madhuraṃ vākyaṃ vaidehyā vyājahāra ha ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ പലവിധമായി ആലോചിച്ച ശേഷം, മഹാകപിയായ ഹനുമാൻ വൈദേഹിയുടെ കേൾവിയിൽപ്പെടുന്ന വിധം മധുരവചനങ്ങൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Particle (निपात) used with names: ‘by name/called’

• rathakuñjaravājimān: possessing chariots, elephants, and horses
• rathakuñjaravājimān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक) + vājin (प्रातिपदिक) + -mat (मतुप्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व (itaretara) ratha-kuñjara-vāji + मतुप्: ‘having chariots, elephants, and horses’

• puṇyaśīlaḥ: of righteous character
• puṇyaśīlaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘puṇyaṃ śīlaṃ yasya’ (virtuous in conduct)

• mahākīrtiḥ: of great fame
• mahākīrtiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kīrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); i-stem

• ikṣvākūṇām: of the Ikṣvākus
• ikṣvākūṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahāyaśāḥ: highly illustrious
• mahāyaśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); yaśas-stem with nom.sg -āḥ

Context

"If I so back, this illustrious princess, Janaki will give up her life, finding no means of deliverance (from this tragic situation).

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (mahākapi)
• Vaidehī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes thoughtful speech: one should deliberate and then speak in a way that heals and guides, not in haste.

What is the narrative situation?

A transition into Hanumān’s direct address: after internal deliberation, he begins speaking so Sītā can hear him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and compassion—Hanumān thinks carefully and chooses gentle words to approach a traumatized listener.