Shloka 28

हनूमत्सीतासंवादः

Hanuman’s Offer of Rescue and Sita’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

मैथिली तु हरिश्रेष्ठाच्छ्रुत्वा वचनमद्भुतम्।हर्षविस्मितसर्वाङ्गी हनुमन्तमथाब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

maithilī tu hariśreṣṭhāc chrutvā vacanam adbhutam |

harṣavismitasarvāṅgī hanumantam athābravīt ||

Translation

എന്നാൽ മൈഥിലി, വാനരശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ ഹനുമാന്റെ അത്ഭുതവചനങ്ങൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, ഹർഷവും വിസ്മയവും അവളുടെ സർവ്വാംഗത്തിലും രോമാഞ്ചമായി പടർന്നു; പിന്നെ അവൾ ഹനുമാനോട് പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• मैथिली: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• हरिश्रेष्ठात्: from the best of monkeys
• हरिश्रेष्ठात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari-śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरिणां श्रेष्ठः); पुल्लिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (Ablative); एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) > śrutvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having heard'

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वचनम्)

• हर्षविस्मितसर्वाङ्गी: whose whole body was thrilled and astonished
• हर्षविस्मितसर्वाङ्गी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: harṣa + vismita + sarvāṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (यस्याḥ सर्वाङ्गानि हर्षेण विस्मितानि); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण (मैथिली)

• हनुमन्तम्: Hanuman
• हनुमन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

When Mythili heard the wonderful proposal from Hanuman, the best of vanaras, she experienced immense joy in every limb of her body and said:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Maithilī)
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma is strengthened by hope grounded in truthful possibility: Sītā’s joy arises because rescue is not mere fantasy but supported by Hanumān’s proven ability and righteous intent.

What is the narrative situation?

After Hanumān’s persuasive assurances, the narration describes Sītā’s bodily reaction—joy mixed with amazement—before she replies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s resilience: even amid captivity, she can respond to righteous aid with renewed hope, preparing to speak thoughtfully rather than impulsively.