Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 1

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य वायुसूनोर्महात्मनः।उवाचात्महितं वाक्यं सीता सुरसुतोपमा।।5.40.1।।

Transliteration

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya vāyusūnor mahātmanaḥ | uvāca ātmahitaṃ vākyaṃ sītā surasutopamā ||

Translation

Nang marinig ni Sītā—na tulad ng anak na babae ng mga diyos—ang mga salita ng dakilang anak ni Vāyu, siya’y nagsalita ng mga salitang ukol sa kanyang tunay na kapakanan.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Ktva (क्त्वा) absolutive/gerund; अव्ययभाव (having heard)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (but/indeed)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of श्रुत्वा

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• वायुसूनोः: of the son of the Wind-god
• वायुसूनोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu-sūnu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; apposition to तस्य; समास: वायोः सूनुः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; विशेषण/apposition to वायुसूनोः; समास: महान् आत्मा (कर्मधारय)

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट् = Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आत्महितम्: beneficial to herself
• आत्महितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātma-hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषण of वाक्यम्; समास: आत्मनः हितम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वाक्यम्: speech/statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of उवाच

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• सुरसुतोपमा: like a daughter of the gods
• सुरसुतोपमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sura-sutā-upamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; विशेषण of सीता; समास: सुरसुतायाः उपमा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Context

Sita who was like the daughter of the gods heard the son of the Wind-god for her benefit and replied:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma is practical discernment under crisis: Sītā responds with words aimed at true welfare (ātmahita), not merely emotion—showing steadiness and moral clarity.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Aśoka grove meeting, Sītā has heard Hanumān’s message and begins her reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and self-possession: Sītā speaks thoughtfully for the right end, even while distressed.