Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 6

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats

Devanagari script

सा त्वशोकस्य विपुलां शाखामालम्ब्य पुष्पिताम्।चिन्तयामास शोकेन भर्तारं भग्नमानसा।।5.25.6।।

Transliteration

sā tv aśokasya vipulāṁ śākhām ālambya puṣpitām | cintayāmāsa śokena bhartāraṁ bhagnamānasā || 5.25.6 ||

Translation

সীতা অশোকবৃক্ষের বৃহৎ পুষ্পিত শাখা আঁকড়ে ধরে, শোকে ভগ্নহৃদয়া হয়ে কেবল স্বামীর কথাই ভাবতে লাগলেন।

Word by Word

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

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

• अशोकस्य: of the Ashoka tree
• अशोकस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'of the Ashoka tree'

• विपुलाम्: large
• विपुलाम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies śākhām

• शाखाम्: branch
• शाखाम्: कर्म (Object of ālambya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आलम्ब्य: having held onto
• आलम्ब्य: पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + लम्ब् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); 'having held/leaned on'

• पुष्पिताम्: flowering
• पुष्पिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्पित (प्रातिपदिक; पुष्प + इत)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies śākhām

• चिन्तयामास: thought of
• चिन्तयामास: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; intensive periphrastic-like form 'thought'

• शोकेन: with grief
• शोकेन: करण (Instrument/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'with grief'

• भर्तारम्: her husband
• भर्तारम्: कर्म (Object of cintayāmāsa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'husband'

• भग्नमानसा: broken-hearted
• भग्नमानसा: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न + मानस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'भग्नं मानसं यस्याः सा' (one whose mind is broken)

Context

Laying hold on a large blossoming branch of the Ashoka tree, Sita thought of her husband with a broken heart.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Aśoka tree
• Rāma (as bhartā)

FAQs

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

Steadfast fidelity and moral constancy in adversity: even in captivity, Sītā’s mind remains anchored in her rightful bond to her husband, reflecting pativratā-dharma aligned with satya (truthfulness to one’s vows and identity).

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s Aśoka-vana, Sītā is surrounded by threats and sorrow; she physically clings to a tree branch while mentally dwelling on Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-minded devotion and resilience—Sītā’s unwavering attachment to dharma despite emotional collapse and external danger.