Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 24

चन्द्रप्रकाशे लङ्कानिरीक्षणम्

Moonlit Survey of Lanka and the Unfound Sita

Devanagari script

सनातने वर्त्मनि सन्निविष्टां रामेक्षणां तां मदनाभिविष्टाम्।भर्तुर्मनः श्रीमदनुप्रविष्टां स्त्रीभ्यो वराभ्यश्च सदा विशिष्टाम्।।5.5.24।।

Transliteration

sanātane vartmani sanniviṣṭāṃ rāmekṣaṇāṃ tāṃ madanābhiviṣṭām | bhartur manaḥ śrīmad anupraviṣṭāṃ strībhyo varābhyaś ca sadā viśiṣṭām ||5.5.24||

Translation

她安住于永恒的正法之道，目光清丽，心中充满爱恋；她的心念恒常归入其光辉的夫君，因此在众女之中，乃至最贤美者之间，也常显卓然出众。

Word by Word

• sanātane: eternal
• sanātane: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण

• vartmani: on the path/way
• vartmani: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vartman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• sanniviṣṭām: firmly established
• sanniviṣṭām: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanniviṣṭa (कृदन्त; √viś (विश्) + sam + नि + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘seated/settled/established’ (PPP)

• rāma-īkṣaṇām: Rama-eyed / with eyes on Rama
• rāma-īkṣaṇām: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य ईक्षणे यस्याः/रामेक्षणा = having Rama-like eyes / eyes fixed on Rama)

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• madana-abhiviṣṭām: overcome by love
• madana-abhiviṣṭām: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madana (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiviṣṭa (कृदन्त; √viś (विश्) + abhi + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; ‘overwhelmed/possessed by love (Madana)’

• bhartuḥ: of (her) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी-सम्बन्धेन ‘भर्तुः मनः’

• śrīmat: glorious
• śrīmat: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (glorious/prosperous)

• anupraviṣṭām: entered (into his mind)
• anupraviṣṭām: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anupraviṣṭa (कृदन्त; √viś (विश्) + anu + pra + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘entered into/penetrated’ (PPP)

• strībhyaḥ: than women
• strībhyaḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/तुलना), बहुवचन; तुलनार्थे ‘than women’

• varābhyaḥ: than the best
• varābhyaḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (तुलना), बहुवचन; ‘than the best (women)’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• viśiṣṭām: distinguished/superior
• viśiṣṭām: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśiṣṭa (कृदन्त; √śiṣ (शिष्/√śās) + vi + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘distinguished/superior’ (PPP used adjectivally)

Context

'Sita must have had a pair of beautiful eyes. She must have been a passionate lady with mind fixed on her glorious husband. Ever established in dharma, she is perhaps a distinguished lady compared to her counterparts (in Lanka).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as unwavering adherence to the ‘eternal path’—Sītā’s love is not mere desire but harmonized with duty and fidelity.

What is the narrative situation?

Unable to locate Sītā, Hanumān reasons about her character and how she would differ from others in Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fidelity and moral distinction—her mind is ‘ever established’ in Rāma, reflecting steadfastness and truthfulness in relationship.