Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 2

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही राक्षसीभिर्मनस्विनी।उवाच परमत्रस्ता भाष्पग्द्गदया गिरा।।5.25.2।।

Transliteration

evamuktā tu vaidehī rākṣasībhir manasvinī | uvāca paramatrastā bhāṣpa-gadgadayā girā || 5.25.2 ||

Translation

فلما خوطبت فايدهِي على هذا النحو من قِبَل الراكشاسيات، وهي نبيلةُ النفس شديدةُ الفزع، تكلّمت بصوتٍ مخنوقٍ بالدموع.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'thus/in that way'

• उक्ता: addressed/told
• उक्ता: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'having been spoken to/addressed'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): contrast/emphasis

• वैदेही: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेही: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper noun

• राक्षसीभिः: by the ogresses
• राक्षसीभिः: करण (Karana/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; instrumental 'by the ogresses'

• मनस्विनी: noble-minded
• मनस्विनी: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of वैदेही

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'said'

• परमत्रस्ता: extremely frightened
• परमत्रस्ता: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + त्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'परमा त्रस्ता'

• भाष्पगद्गदया: with a tear-choked
• भाष्पगद्गदया: करण (Instrument of speaking)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाष्प + गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrument 'with a tear-choked (voice)'

• गिरा: with a voice
• गिरा: करण (Karana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'with speech/voice'

Context

'Unable to find my husband and seized by these ogresses, I am collapsing on account of grief like a river-bank under the current of water.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Rākṣasīs

FAQs

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

Even under coercion and fear, Sītā maintains moral clarity and truthful self-expression; her tears show suffering, but her speech signals steadfastness rather than surrender.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā, Sītā is surrounded by rākṣasīs who threaten and pressure her; she replies while overwhelmed with fear and grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude under oppression—Sītā’s inner nobility (manasvinī) persists despite terror.