Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 39

हनूमत्सीतासंवादः

Hanuman’s Offer of Rescue and Sita’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा भीमसङ्काशमुवाच जनकात्मजा।पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षी मारुतस्यौरसं सुतम्।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīma-saṅkāśam uvāca janakātmajā | padma-patra-viśālā-kṣī mārutasya aurasaṃ sutam ||

Translation

اسے اس ہیبت ناک روپ میں دیکھ کر، جنک کی دختر—کنول کے پتّوں جیسی وسیع آنکھوں والی—ماروت کے سچے فرزند سے یوں مخاطب ہوئی۔

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having seen'

• bhīma-saṅkāśam: terrible in appearance
• bhīma-saṅkāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies tam) — 'terrible-looking'

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• janaka-ātmajā: Janaka's daughter
• janaka-ātmajā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka + ātmajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'daughter of Janaka'

• padma-patra-viśāla-akṣī: she with lotus-petal-like large eyes
• padma-patra-viśāla-akṣī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma + patra + viśāla + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि — 'she whose eyes are large like lotus-petals' (epithet of Sita)

• mārutasya: of Maruta (Wind)
• mārutasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• aurasam: own (true-born)
• aurasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aurasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies sutam) — 'own, born of the body'

• sutam: son
• sutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Seeing the son of Maruta in dreadful form, the broad lotus petal-eyed daughter of Janaka with eyes as large as lotus petals replied :

Characters & Entities

• Sita (Janakatmaja, Vaidehi)
• Hanuman
• Maruta (Vayu)

FAQs

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

Dharma is careful discernment: even amid fear, Sītā observes, identifies, and responds appropriately rather than reacting blindly.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration marks the moment Sītā, after observing Hanuman’s powerful form, begins speaking to him directly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s composure and discernment—she assesses the messenger before engaging, aligning speech with prudence.