Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 10

सीताहनूमद्भाषणम्

Sita Tests the Messenger; Hanuman Offers Reassurance

Devanagari script

अहो धिग्दुष्कृतमिदं कथितं हि यदस्य मे।रूपान्तरमुपागम्य स एवायं हि रावणः।।।।

Transliteration

aho dhig duṣkṛtam idaṃ kathitaṃ hi yad asya me |

rūpāntaram upāgamya sa evāyaṃ hi rāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

唉，真是可耻于我！我竟说出了不该说的话。既已变换形貌，此人必定就是罗波那本人。

Word by Word

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

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): "having seen"

• vandamānam: bowing / saluting
• vandamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vand (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय (present participle, आत्मनेपद), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (तम्)

• tu: but / indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेष-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śaśinibhānanā: moon-faced
• śaśinibhānanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaśin + nibhā + ānanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: "whose face is like the moon"

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• dīrgham: deeply / at length
• dīrgham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative): "for long / deeply"

• ucchvasya: having exhaled
• ucchvasya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-√śvas (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): "having sighed/breathed out"

• vānaram: to the monkey (one)
• vānaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• madhurasvarā: sweet-voiced
• madhurasvarā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura + svara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (सीता)

Context

"Oh!shame on me. I have told him my story which should not have been said. This is verily Ravana come in a disguise".

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It stresses vigilant discernment and restraint in speech: when deception is possible, dharma includes careful judgment to protect truth and safety.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā fears she may have revealed personal details to an enemy, suspecting the visitor could be Rāvaṇa in another guise.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s prudence and alertness under threat—protecting satya by not being easily deceived.