Shloka 1

सीताहरणोत्तरं लङ्काप्रवेशः

Sita’s Abduction and Ravana’s Entry into Lanka

Devanagari script

ह्रियमाणा तु वैदेही कञ्चिन्नाथमपश्यती।ददर्श गिरिशृङ्गस्थान्पञ्च वानरपुङ्गवान्।।।।

Transliteration

hriyamāṇā tu vaidehī kañcin nātham apaśyatī |

dadarśa giriśṛṅga-sthān pañca vānarapuṅgavān ||3.54.1||

Translation

Als Vaidehī fortgeschleppt wurde und keinen Beschützer in der Nähe sah, erblickte sie auf einem Berggipfel fünf mächtige Fürsten der Affen.

Word by Word

• ह्रियमाणा: being carried away
• ह्रियमाणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: शानच्/मान (present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि

• तु: but/and
• तु: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अन्वय-अव्यय (particle)

• वैदेही: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कञ्चित्: some
• कञ्चित्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चित/अनिर्दिष्ट (indefinite: some)

• नाथम्: protector
• नाथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपश्यती: did not see
• अपश्यती: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; नकारार्थे वर्तमान (not seeing)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गिरिशृङ्गस्थान्: standing on mountain peaks
• गिरिशृङ्गस्थान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: giri-śṛṅga-stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (गिरेः शृङ्गे स्थाः)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (संख्या-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral)

• वानरपुङ्गवान्: foremost monkeys
• वानरपुङ्गवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara-puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (वानराणां पुङ्गवाः = best of monkeys)

Context

While Sita was being kidnapped, she saw no one to protect her. Only five great monkeys stood on the top of a mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Rāvaṇa (implied abductor)
• mountain peak (giriśṛṅga)

FAQs

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

Even amid adharma, dharma seeks support and rightful refuge (nātha). The verse highlights the need for protection of the innocent and foreshadows aid aligned with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

During the abduction, Sītā looks for help and spots five powerful monkeys on a mountain, a narrative bridge toward the vānaras’ later role.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s presence of mind and hope: despite fear, she observes potential allies and continues seeking a path toward rescue.