Shloka 41

सीताप्रत्यय-प्रदानम्

Sita’s Recognition and Reassurance by the Envoy

Devanagari script

न मांसं राघवो भुङक्ते न चाऽपि मधु सेवते।वन्यं सुविहितं नित्यं भक्तमश्नाति पञ्चमम्।।।।

Transliteration

na māṃsaṃ rāghavo bhuṅkte na cāpi madhu sevate | vanyaṃ suvihitaṃ nityaṃ bhaktam aśnāti pañcamam ||

Translation

രാഘവൻ മാംസം ഭക്ഷിക്കുകയില്ല; മധു (മദ്യ)വും സേവിക്കുകയില്ല. അദ്ദേഹം നിത്യവും നിയമപ്രകാരം വന്യാഹാരമേ, നിശ്ചിത ശുദ്ധപരിമിതിയിൽ—പഞ്ചമഭാഗമായി—ഭക്ഷിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• eva: at all/indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle, emphasis

• daṃśān: biting flies/gnats
• daṃśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• na: nor
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• maśakān: mosquitoes
• maśakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• na: nor
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• kīṭān: insects
• kīṭān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• na: nor
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• sarīsṛpān: creeping creatures/reptiles
• sarīsṛpān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarīsṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava
• rāghavaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• apanayet: would remove/drive away
• apanayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√nī (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; negative sense with naiva

• gātrāt: from (his) limbs
• gātrāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• tvad-gatena: with (his mind) fixed on you
• tvad-gatena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; ‘gone to you’ i.e., ‘fixed on you’; qualifying antarātmanā

• antar-ātmanā: with his inner self/heart
• antar-ātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antarātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; ‘inner self/heart’

Context

"Rama is not eating meat, nor drinking wine. He takes only the one fifth of a meal(sanctioned for an ascetic) available in the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• madhu (wine/mead)

FAQs

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

Dharma as self-control (dama) and purity: Rāma’s restraint reflects disciplined living and moral clarity while pursuing a righteous mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān informs Sītā of Rāma’s austere habits in the forest, showing how deeply he has embraced disciplined conduct during separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s temperance and ascetic steadiness under suffering.