Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 68

रावणभवनपरिक्रमणं हनूमतः शोकविचारश्च

Hanuman’s Circuit of Ravana’s Palace and the Crisis of Deliberation

Devanagari script

तदुन्नसं पाण्डुरदन्तमव्रणं शुचिस्मितं पद्मपलाशलोचनम्।द्रक्ष्ये तदार्यावदनं कदान्वहं प्रसन्नताराधिपतुल्यदर्शनम्।।।।

Transliteration

tad-unnasaṃ pāṇḍura-dantam avraṇaṃ śuci-smitam padma-palāśa-locanam | drakṣye tad āryā-vadanaṃ kadā nv ahaṃ prasanna-tārādhipa-tulya-darśanam ||

Translation

Когда же увижу я лик той благородной дамы — без раны и без пятна, с высоким носом, белыми зубами, чистой мягкой улыбкой, глазами, подобными лепесткам лотоса, и обликом, равным спокойному владыке ночи — луне?

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (object; points to the described face/appearance)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); विशेष्य-निर्देशः

• unnasam: high-nosed
• unnasam: Karma (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unnasa (उत्-नास) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); विशेषणम्

• pāṇḍura-dantam: white-toothed
• pāṇḍura-dantam: Karma (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍura (पाण्डुर) + danta (दन्त) (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); कर्मधारय-समासः; विशेषणम्

• avraṇam: unwounded; without blemish
• avraṇam: Karma (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + vraṇa (व्रण) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); नञ्-समासार्थक-निषेधः; विशेषणम्

• śuci-smitam: pure/pleasant-smiling
• śuci-smitam: Karma (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (शुचि) + smita (स्मित) (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); कर्मधारय-समासः; विशेषणम्

• padma-palāśa-locanam: lotus-petal-eyed
• padma-palāśa-locanam: Karma (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (पद्म) + palāśa (पलाश) + locana (लोचन) (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (padma-palāśa-sadṛśaṃ locanaṃ yasya/tat); विशेषणम्

• drakṣye: I shall see
• drakṣye: Kriya (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (1st person singular); परस्मैपदम्

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (object; resumes the same referent)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); विशेष्य-निर्देशः

• āryā-vadanam: the noble lady’s face
• āryā-vadanam: Karma (object of ‘drakṣye’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āryā (आर्या) + vadana (वदन) (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (āryāyāḥ vadanam); कर्म (object) पदम्

• kadā: when
• kadā: Kāla (time—interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-कालाव्ययम् (interrogative adverb of time)

• nu: indeed?; I wonder
• nu: Prayojaka (particle modifying the question)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle); प्रश्न/संशय/उत्कण्ठा-सूचकः

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (subject/agent)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Nominative, Singular)

• prasanna-tārādhipa-tulya-darśanam: having an appearance like the serene moon
• prasanna-tārādhipa-tulya-darśanam: Karma (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रसन्न) + tārā-adhipa (तारा+अधिप) + tulya (तुल्य) + darśana (दर्शन) (प्रातिपदिक-चतुष्टय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘prasanna’ विशेषणम्; ‘tārādhipa’ = चन्द्रः (moon) इति रूढिः; ‘tulya’ = सदृश; ‘darśana’ = रूप/दर्शनम्; विशेषणम्

Context

'Oh! when and how would I behold that beautiful noble lady of stainless character, with a Moon-like face, prominent nose, white teeth, pleasant smile and with eyes like lotus petals?

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Moon (tārādhipa)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as steadfast fidelity to a righteous mission: Hanumān’s unwavering resolve to find Sītā for Rāma, sustained by reverence and purity of intent rather than despair.

What is the narrative situation?

Within Laṅkā, Hanumān continues searching for Sītā; as he fails to find her immediately, he recalls her noble features and longs for the moment of seeing her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s bhakti and perseverance—his mind remains fixed on Sītā’s welfare and the truthful completion of Rāma’s task.