Shloka 23

सीतासान्त्वनम् / Hanuman Consoles Sita with the News of Victory

Devanagari script

तवैतद्वचनंसौम्येसारवत् स्निग्धमेव च ।।6.116.23।।रत्नौघाद्विविधाच्चापिदेवराज्याद्विशिष्यते ।

Transliteration

tavaitad vacanaṃ saumye sāravat snigdham eva ca | ratnaughād vividhāc cāpi devarājyād viśiṣyate ||

Translation

ହେ ସୌମ୍ୟେ! ତୁମର ଏହି ବଚନ ସାରବତ୍ ଓ ସ୍ନିଗ୍ଧ ପ୍ରେମରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ; ଏହା ବିବିଧ ରତ୍ନର ଢେରଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଦେବରାଜ୍ୟର ଐଶ୍ୱର୍ୟଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ।

Word by Word

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• vacanam: speech, message
• vacanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• saumye: O gentle lady
• saumye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सम्बोधन (Voc.), एकवचन; addressing Sita

• sāravat: meaningful, substantial
• sāravat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāravat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable-like adjective), नपुंसक/पुं/स्त्री सर्वत्र समान; here qualifying "vacanam"

• snigdham: affectionate
• snigdham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषण of "vacanam"

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• ratna-oghāt: than a heap of gems
• ratna-oghāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘रत्नानाम् ओघः’ (a flood/heap of gems)

• vividhāt: varied
• vividhāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; विशेषण of "ratnaughāt"

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-निपात (even/also)

• deva-rājyāt: than the kingdom of the gods
• deva-rājyāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘देवानां राज्यं’ (sovereignty of the gods)

• viśiṣyate: excels
• viśiṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śiṣ (शिष्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘excels/is superior’

Context

"You alone can speak such affectionate words in this manner wishing victory and welfare of your dear husband. You are irreproachable."

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Indra (implied by devarājya)

FAQs

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

Dharma privileges sāravat-snigdha-vākya—truthful, substantial, affectionate speech—over wealth and status, presenting ethical speech as a higher good.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān praises Sītā’s response, declaring her words more precious than jewels or heavenly rule.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s meaningful, affectionate, dharma-aligned speech; and Hanumān’s discernment in honoring moral value above material splendor.