Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 25
सप्तदशः सर्गः
Hanuman Beholds Sita in the Ashoka Grove
सा मलेन च दिग्धाङ्गी वपुषा चाप्यलङ्कृता।।।।मृणाली पङ्कदिग्धेव विभाति न विभाति च।
sā malena ca digdhāṅgī vapuṣā cāpy alaṅkṛtā | mṛṇālī paṅkadigdhā iva vibhāti na vibhāti ca || 5.17.25 ||
กายของนางเปื้อนมลทิน และไร้เครื่องประดับประดา; กระนั้นนางก็ทั้งสว่างไสวและไม่สว่างไสว—ดุจใยบัวที่เปื้อนโคลนตม
Hanuman saw the fawn-eyed lady clad in crushed and soiled clothes with a pathetic face. She felt no dejection when she thought of her husband's prowess. The black-eyed beauty was protected by her own chastity.
FAQs
It teaches that true worth is inward: dharma and purity are not erased by external neglect or hardship—outer stains do not define inner integrity.
Hanumān observes Sītā’s condition in captivity—soiled, unadorned, and grief-stricken—yet still inherently luminous.
Sītā’s inner radiance grounded in truth and chastity, persisting despite deprivation.
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