Shloka 36

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्

Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

अबलां मृगशाबाक्षीं वीक्षमाणां ततस्ततः।।5.15.35।।बाष्पाम्बुपरिपूर्णेन कृष्णवक्राक्षिपक्ष्मणा।वदनेनाप्रसन्नेन निःश्वसन्तीं पुनः पुनः।।5.15.36।।

Transliteration

abalāṃ mṛgaśābākṣīṃ vīkṣamāṇāṃ tatas tataḥ || 5.15.35 || bāṣpāmbuparipūrṇena kṛṣṇavakrākṣipakṣmaṇā | vadanenāprasannena niḥśvasantīṃ punaḥ punaḥ || 5.15.36 ||

Translation

那无助、鹿子般眼眸的女子四下张望；在乌黑弯曲的睫毛下，她的双眼盈满泪水，面容不见欢色，反复叹息。

Word by Word

• abalām: the helpless woman
• abalām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mṛgaśāba-akṣīm: fawn-eyed
• mṛgaśāba-akṣīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛgaśāba (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः

• vīkṣamāṇām: looking
• vīkṣamāṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु) + śānac (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त

• tatas: here
• tatas: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• tataḥ: there
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• bāṣpa-ambu-paripūrṇena: filled with tear-water
• bāṣpa-ambu-paripūrṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + paripūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-vakra-akṣi-pakṣmaṇā: with dark, curved eyelashes
• kṛṣṇa-vakra-akṣi-pakṣmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vakra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vadanena: with face
• vadanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• aprasannena: gloomy
• aprasannena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aprasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• niḥśvasantīm: sighing
• niḥśvasantīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śvas (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• punaḥ: again and again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Context

The fawneyed lady was looking here and there with her dark, curved eyelashes. Her unhappy face was streaming with tears.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

The repeated description reinforces compassionate attention to suffering; Dharma is not indifferent—it observes carefully and acts to relieve distress.

What is the narrative situation?

The text reiterates Hanumān’s close observation of Sītā’s tearful, anxious state.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s vigilance and care in verifying Sītā’s condition before approaching.