Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 6

अभिज्ञानदानम् / The Gift of Recognition

Sita’s Token and Resolve

Devanagari script

स वीर्यवान्कथं सीतां हृतां समनुमन्यसे।वसन्तीं रक्षसां मध्ये महेन्द्रवरुणोपमः।।5.40.6।।

Transliteration

sa vīryavān kathaṃ sītāṃ hṛtāṃ samanumanyase | vasantīṃ rakṣasāṃ madhye mahendrvaruṇopamaḥ ||5.40.6||

Translation

你如此英勇，堪比摩诃因陀罗与伐楼那，怎能容忍悉多被掳，居于罗刹之中？

Word by Word

• सः: he (Rama)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun, Nominative, Singular)

• वीर्यवान्: valiant
• वीर्यवान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• हृताम्: abducted
• हृताम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with सीताम्)

• समनुमन्यसे: do you approve/think possible
• समनुमन्यसे: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अनु-मन्य् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वसन्तीम्: dwelling
• वसन्तीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with सीताम्)

• रक्षसाम्: of the rakshasas
• रक्षसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• महेन्द्रवरुणोपमः: comparable to Indra and Varuna
• महेन्द्रवरुणोपमः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेन्द्र-वरुण-उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); तत्पुरुषः (महेन्द्रवरुणयोः उपमः)

Context

'Rama! you are like Indra and Varuna in valiance. How are you tolerating Sita seized, dwelling among the demons?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Rākṣasas
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Varuṇa

FAQs

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

The verse invokes kṣatriya-dharma: valor must translate into action against adharma (abduction and coercion). Endurance is not praised when it permits injustice to continue.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, still captive, urges Rāma (through Hanumān) not to resign himself to her abduction and to act decisively to restore dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s heroic responsibility: his strength is framed as a moral obligation to protect and to rectify wrongs.