Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 25

हनूमत्सीतासंवादः

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

Devanagari script

कथयन्तीव चन्द्रेण सूर्येण च महार्चिषा।मत्पृष्ठमधिरुह्य त्वं तराकाशमहार्णवौ।।।।

Transliteration

kathayantīva candreṇa sūryeṇa ca mahārciṣā |

matpṛṣṭham adhiruhya tvaṃ tarākāśamahārṇavau ||

Translation

Naiklah ke belakangku dan seberangilah lautan besar serta hamparan langit yang luas—seolah-olah engkau berbicara dengan Bulan dan Matahari yang menyala gemilang.

Word by Word

• कथयन्ती: speaking/conversing
• कथयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘त्वम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (simile marker)

• चन्द्रेण: with the moon
• चन्द्रेण: Sahakarana (सहकारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• सूर्येण: with the sun
• सूर्येण: Sahakarana (सहकारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• महार्चिषा: with great radiance
• महार्चिषा: Sahakarana (सहकारण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + arciṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महती अर्चिः यस्य); तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; (सूर्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण)

• मत्-पृष्ठम्: my back
• मत्-पृष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मम पृष्ठम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अधिरुह्य: having climbed onto
• अधिरुह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) ‘having mounted’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तर: cross
• तर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• आकाश-महार्णवौ: the sky and the great ocean
• आकाश-महार्णवौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + mahārṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (आकाशश्च महार्णवश्च); द्विवचन, द्वितीया (2nd); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वन्द्वे सामान्यतः नपुंसकत्वम्

Context

"Climb on my back and cross the ocean through space in the flaming light, conversing with Moon and Sun.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Candra (Moon)
• Sūrya (Sun)
• Ākāśa (sky)
• Mahārṇava (ocean)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is protection through rightful strength: power is portrayed as a vehicle for safeguarding the innocent, not for domination.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān poetically describes the rescue flight, emphasizing speed, height, and safety, to persuade Sītā that escape is feasible.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s confidence and uplifting speech—using inspiring imagery to reduce fear and restore hope.