Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 21

द्वादशः सर्गः — हनूमतः अन्तःपुरविचयः

Hanuman’s Search Through Ravana’s Inner Apartments

Devanagari script

नागकन्या वरारोहाः पूर्णचन्र्दनिभाननाः।दृष्टा हनुमता तत्र न तु सीता सुमध्यमा।।।।

Transliteration

nāgakanyā varārohāḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanāḥ |

dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sītā sumadhyamā ||

Translation

وہاں ہنومانؑ نے ناگ کنیاؤں کو دیکھا—خوش قامت، اور جن کے چہرے پورے چاند کی مانند تھے—مگر باریک کمر والی سیتا اسے نظر نہ آئی۔

Word by Word

• rūpeṇa: in beauty / by beauty
• rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular: in/with beauty)

• apratimāḥ: incomparable
• apratimāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative singular: in the world)

• varāḥ: excellent
• varāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural: excellent)

• vidyādhara-striyaḥ: Vidyadhara women
• vidyādhara-striyaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyādhara + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: विद्याधराणां स्त्रियः

• dṛṣṭāḥ: were seen
• dṛṣṭāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग

• hanumatā: by Hanuman
• hanumatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशबोधक अव्यय (there)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधबोधक अव्यय

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोधबोधक अव्यय (but)

• rāghava-nandinī: Raghava's beloved (Sita)
• rāghava-nandinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava + nandinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: राघवस्य नन्दिनी (beloved/delight of Raghava)

Context

Hanuman could see there moon-faced daughters of nagas with charming limbs but not the slim-waisted Sita.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Constancy in dharma: even in extraordinary surroundings, the righteous agent does not lose the thread of duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān’s search reveals many wondrous beings in Laṅkā, yet Sītā remains unseen.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness—he continues searching despite repeated disappointment.