Shloka 18

षष्टितमः सर्गः — Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Devanagari script

अलक्तरसरक्ताभावलक्तरसवर्जितौ।अद्यापि चरणौ तस्याः पद्मकोशसमप्रभौ।।।।

Transliteration

alaktarasa-raktābhāv alaktarasa-varjitau |

adyāpi caraṇau tasyāḥ padmakośa-sama-prabhau ||

Translation

Noch heute erscheinen ihre Füße — obgleich nicht mehr mit rotem Lack gefärbt — als wären sie weiterhin gerötet, und sie leuchten wie die Knospen des Lotus.

Word by Word

• alaktarasaraktābhau: having the appearance of being red with lac-dye
• alaktarasaraktābhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alakta-rasa-rakta-ābhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); adjective agreeing with 'caraṇau'; compound: alakta-rasa (lac-dye) + rakta (red) + ābhā (appearance)

• alaktarasa-varjitau: devoid of lac-dye
• alaktarasa-varjitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alakta-rasa-varjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual; adjective agreeing with 'caraṇau'; varjita = 'devoid of'

• adyāpi: even now
• adyāpi: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya-api (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (काल-अव्यय): adya 'today/now' + api 'even'

• caraṇau: (two) feet
• caraṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual; subject (understood 'are')

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular; refers to Sītā

• padmakośa-samaprabhau: shining like lotus buds
• padmakośa-samaprabhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma-kośa-sama-prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual; adjective agreeing with 'caraṇau'; compound: padma-kośa (lotus-bud) + sama (equal) + prabhā (splendour)

Context

The countenance of Sita with her gentle eloquence resembles a hundredpetalled lotus. She has the luminance of the full Moon that has not wilted.

Characters & Entities

• Sita

FAQs

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

It implies the dignity of simplicity: even when royal adornments fall away, the worth of a dharmic life remains—outer loss does not diminish inner excellence.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra offers concrete, tender details of Sītā’s condition in exile—her unadorned feet—showing she is enduring the journey without losing her natural grace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Renunciation with poise—Sītā accepts reduced comforts without complaint, maintaining dignity.