Shloka 4

सुन्‍दरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

अहिंसारतिरक्षुद्रो घृणी सत्यपराक्रमः।मुख्यश्चेक्ष्वाकुवंशस्य लक्ष्मीवान् लक्ष्मिवर्धनः।।।।

Transliteration

ahiṃsāratir akṣudro ghṛṇī satyaparākramaḥ | mukhyaś cīkṣvākuvaṃśasya lakṣmīvān lakṣmivardhanaḥ ||

Translation

അഹിംസയിൽ രതി ഉള്ളവൻ, ക്ഷുദ്രതയില്ലാത്ത മഹാത്മാവ്, കരുണാനിധി, സത്യാധിഷ്ഠിത പരാക്രമൻ; ഇക്ഷ്വാകുവംശത്തിലെ മുഖ്യൻ, ശ്രീമാൻ, ശ്രീ വർധിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ ആയിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• pārthivavyañjanaiḥ: with royal insignia
• pārthivavyañjanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक) + vyañjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘pārthivasya vyañjanāni’ (royal insignia/marks)

• yuktaḥ: endowed/possessed
• yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (युजे संयोगे) (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकृदन्त; क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pṛthuśrīḥ: of vast splendor/wealth
• pṛthuśrīḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pṛthu (प्रातिपदिक) + śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); i-stem śrī

• pārthivarṣabhaḥ: bull among rulers
• pārthivarṣabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘pārthivānāṃ ṛṣabhaḥ’ (bull among kings)

• pṛthivyām: on earth
• pṛthivyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• caturantāyām: in the four-bounded (world)
• caturantāyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur-anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु: ‘catvāraḥ antāḥ yasyāḥ’ (having four boundaries/quarters)

• viśrutaḥ: well-known
• viśrutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√śru (श्रवणे) (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकृदन्त; क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sukhadaḥ: giver of happiness
• sukhadaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक; from √dā दाने)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘sukhaṃ dadāti’ (giver of happiness)

• sukhī: happy
• sukhī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"He was committed to nonviolence, magnanimous, compassionate and one whose strength was truth. He was not only a prosperous king of Ikshvaku family but also a promoter of prosperity of others too.

Characters & Entities

• satya

FAQs

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

Dharma in rulership is expressed as ahiṃsā (non-harm), compassion, and satya (truth) as the basis of legitimate power.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā describes the moral profile of the Ikṣvāku king, contrasting righteous sovereignty with the unrighteousness she suffers under in Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-powered valor (satyaparākrama) joined with compassion and non-violence—strength that protects rather than oppresses.