Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 10

सीताव्यथा

वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement

Devanagari script

वृत्तशीलकुले जातामाचारवति धार्मिके।पुनःसंस्कारमापन्नां जातामिव च दुष्कुले।।।।

Transliteration

vṛttaśīlakule jātām ācāravati dhārmike |

punaḥsaṃskāram āpannāṃ jātām iva ca duṣkule ||

Translation

وُلدت في سلالةٍ ذات سيرةٍ فاضلة، ونشأت على العُرف القويم والدَّرما؛ لكنها بدت الآن كأنها تُساق إلى تطهيرٍ جديد، كأنها وُلدت في بيتٍ وضيع.

Word by Word

• vṛttaśīlakule: in a family of good conduct and character
• vṛttaśīlakule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta + śīla + kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समाससमूहः; (वृत्तं च शीलं च यस्य तत्) वृत्तशीलम्; वृत्तशीलस्य कुलम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; neuter, locative singular

• jātām: born
• jātām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle, feminine, accusative singular

• ācāravati: in a well-traditional/virtuous (setting)
• ācāravati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ācāravat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; feminine, locative singular (agreeing with kule implied)

• dhārmike: in a righteous (setting)
• dhārmike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhārmika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; feminine, locative singular (agreeing with kule implied)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (repetition)

• saṃskāram: refinement, consecration
• saṃskāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃskāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; masculine, accusative singular

• āpannām: having attained/undergone
• āpannām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-pad (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle, feminine, accusative singular

• jātām: born
• jātām: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle, feminine, accusative singular

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction

• duṣkule: in a bad family
• duṣkule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣ + kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (दुष्टं कुलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; neuter, locative singular

Context

On just seeing Ravana, the lord of demons from a distance, adorned with the best of ornaments the charming, young, blameles princess Vaidehi of beautiful waist trembled like a banana plant shaken by a strong wind.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (implied)

FAQs

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

True purity is intrinsic and ethical, not erased by external contamination; the verse highlights how adharma can unjustly impose the burden of “proof” upon the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

In describing Sītā’s condition in captivity, the narration conveys how a virtuous woman is made to feel socially and emotionally stained by coercive surroundings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast integrity (śīla) and truthfulness (satya): her righteousness remains, even when circumstances try to redefine her worth.