Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 4

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats

Devanagari script

सा राक्षसीमध्यगता सीता सुरसुतोपमा।न शर्म लेभे दुःखार्ता रावणेन च तर्जिता।।5.25.4।।

Transliteration

sā rākṣasī-madhyagatā sītā surasutopamā | na śarma lebhe duḥkhārtā rāvaṇena ca tarjitā || 5.25.4 ||

Translation

سيتا، كابنةٍ للآلهة، واقعةٌ بين الراكشاسيات، مثقلةٌ بالألم ومُهدَّدةٌ من رافانا، لم تنل سكينةَ القلب.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'she'

• राक्षसीमध्यगता: gone into the midst of ogresses
• राक्षसीमध्यगता: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षसी + मध्य + गत (गम्-धातु + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; सप्तमी/तत्पुरुषार्थ: 'राक्षसीनां मध्ये गता' (gone into the midst)

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: कर्ता (Apposition to सा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुरसुतोपमा: like a divine maiden
• सुरसुतोपमा: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरसुत + उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमा-तत्पुरुष: 'सुरसुताया उपमा' = like a goddess's daughter

• न: not
• न: निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation)

• शर्म: comfort
• शर्म: कर्म (Object of lebhe)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'comfort/relief'

• लेभे: obtained
• लेभे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'obtained'

• दुःखार्ता: distressed with sorrow
• दुःखार्ता: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'दुःखेन आर्ता'

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: करण/कर्तृ (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by Ravana'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): 'and'

• तर्जिता: threatened
• तर्जिता: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'threatened'

Context

'Separated from Rama endowed with self-knowledge, it is impossible for me to live like one who has drunk venom.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rākṣasīs
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma (threat and coercion) torments the innocent; dharma may be tested externally, yet the righteous person’s worth remains undiminished.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā remains surrounded by rākṣasīs and under Rāvaṇa’s intimidation, unable to find solace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Purity and dignity (surusutopamā) contrasted against the violence of intimidation.