Shloka 32
अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्
Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove
संसक्तां धूमजालेन शिखामिव विभावसोः।।।।तां स्मृतीमिव सन्दिग्धामृद्धिं निपतितामिव।
saṃsaktāṃ dhūmajālena śikhām iva vibhāvasaḥ | tāṃ smṛtim iva sandigdhām ṛddhiṃ nipatitām iva ||
Nàng như ngọn lửa bị lưới khói che mờ; như ký ức trở nên mơ hồ; như phúc lộc đã rơi rụng, suy tàn.
She was like the flames of fire obscured by smoke. She appeared like the text of Smriti of doubtful meaning, a treasure that has been thrown away;
FAQs
Dharma teaches that true worth (tejas, virtue) can be obscured by circumstance but not destroyed; righteous duty is to recognize the inner truth beneath outward ruin.
Hanumān struggles to reconcile Sītā’s famed radiance with the diminished appearance caused by sorrow and neglect.
Sītā’s inherent nobility—her inner radiance remains, though veiled by suffering.