Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 10

इन्द्रजितो मायासीतावधः

Indrajit’s Illusory Sita Episode and Hanuman’s Rebuke

Devanagari script

स ददर्शहतानन्दांसीतामिन्द्रजितोरथे ।एकवेणीधरांदीनामुपवासकृशाननाम् ।।6.81.9।।परिक्लिष्टैकवसनाममृजांराघवप्रियाम् ।रजोमलाभ्यामालिप्तैस्सर्वगात्रैर्वरस्त्रियम् ।।6.81.10।।

Transliteration

sa dadarśa hatānandāṃ sītām indrajito rathe | ekaveṇīdharāṃ dīnāṃ upavāsakṛśānanām ||

parikliṣṭaikavasanām amṛjāṃ rāghavapriyām | rajo-malābhyām āliptaiḥ sarva-gātrair vara-striyam ||

Translation

ইন্দ্ৰজিতৰ ৰথত সি সীতাদেৱীক দেখিলে—আনন্দহীন, একমাত্ৰ বেণী ধাৰণ কৰা, দীন, উপবাসে মুখ ক্ষীণ হোৱা; একেটা জীৰ্ণ বস্ত্ৰত পৰিক্লিষ্ট, অলংকাৰবিহীন, ৰাঘৱৰ অতি প্ৰিয়া, আৰু ধূলি-মলিনতাৰে লিপ্ত সৰ্বাঙ্গসহ সেই শ্ৰেষ্ঠ নাৰীক।

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of निरीक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निरीक्ष्य: having examined
• निरीक्ष्य: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having looked at’

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle

• मैथिली: Maithili
• मैथिली: कर्म-सम्बन्ध (Predicative complement in thought)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/quotative particle

• अध्यवस्यत्: concluded
• अध्यवस्यत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + अव + सो (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘concluded/ascertained’

• बभूव: became/was
• बभूव: क्रिया (Aux/main)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अचिरदृष्टा: seen recently
• अचिरदृष्टा: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective of सा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचिर + दृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘seen not long ago/recently seen’

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (reason/emphasis)

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: हेतु/करण (Reason/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by that/therefore’

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

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter
• जनकात्मजा: कर्ता (Apposition to सा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘daughter of Janaka’

Context

Hanuman beheld in the chariot of Indrajith, cheerless Sita with one braid, with no desire to live, emaciated by fasting, wearing a single cloth, body not anointed, covered with dust and dirt all over the body, who was dear to Raghava.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Indrajit (Rāvaṇi)
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• chariot

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds Sītā’s steadfastness under suffering—inner truth (satya) and chastity/constancy are preserved even when outward dignity is attacked.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit presents Sītā in a chariot as part of a deceitful spectacle meant to shock and destabilize Rāma’s side.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s endurance and fidelity—her austerity and refusal of comfort signal unwavering commitment to dharma despite coercion.