Valmiki Ramayana 5.25.9 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 9

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats

Devanagari script

तस्याः सा दीर्घविपुला वेपन्त्या सीतया तदा।ददृशे कम्पिनी वेणी व्यालीव परिसर्पती।।5.25.9।।

Transliteration

tasyāḥ sā dīrgha-vipulā vepantyā sītayā tadā | dadṛśe kampinī veṇī vyālīva parisarpatī || 5.25.9 ||

Translation

সেই সময় কঁপনি ধৰা সীতাৰ দীঘল আৰু ঘন বেণী কঁপি উঠা দেখা গ’ল—যেন সৰ্পিণী সৰি গৈছে।

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'of her'

• सा: that
• सा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative qualifying veṇī

• दीर्घविपुला: long and luxuriant
• दीर्घविपुला: विशेषण (Qualifier of veṇī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ: 'long and thick/luxuriant'

• वेपन्त्याः: of the trembling
• वेपन्त्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier of sītayā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान शतृ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'of the trembling (one)'

• सीतया: by Sita
• सीतया: करण/कर्तृ (Experiencer/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by Sita'

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal adverb): 'then'

• ददृशे: appeared/was seen
• ददृशे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; intransitive sense 'was seen/appeared'

• कम्पिनी: shaking
• कम्पिनी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies veṇī

• वेणी: braid (of hair)
• वेणी: कर्ता (Subject of dadṛśe)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'braid'

• व्याली: a she-serpent
• व्याली: उपमान
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'female serpent' (simile base)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative): 'like'

• परिसर्पती: creeping
• परिसर्पती: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + सृप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान शतृ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies veṇī/ vyālī; 'creeping'

Context

The long, luxuriant braid of hair of the trembling Sita waving (in the wind), appeared like a crawling female serpent.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse supports a dharmic reading through vivid depiction of vulnerability: it underscores how righteousness can be maintained even when the body shows fear and instability.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā’s trembling is so strong that even her hair-braid’s movement becomes a striking visual image in the scene.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness beneath distress—her inner resolve contrasts with outward shaking.