Shloka 21

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्

Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

पीतेनैकेन संवीतां क्लिष्टेनोत्तमवाससा।सपङ्कामनलङ्कारां विपद्मामिव पद्मिनीम्।।।।

Transliteration

pītenaikena saṃvītāṃ kliṣṭenottamavāsasā |

sapaṅkām analaṅkārāṃ vipadmām iva padminīm ||

Translation

Sie war nur mit einem einzigen gelben Gewand bekleidet, vortrefflich, doch abgetragen und beschmutzt. Ohne Schmuck und staubbedeckt glich sie einem Lotos-Teich, der schlammig geworden und seiner Lotosblüten beraubt ist.

Word by Word

• pītena: with a yellow
• pītena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (कृदन्त; √pā/पि? here pīta = "yellow" as adjective)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga/puṃ? agreeing with vāsasā; Tṛtīyā, ekavacana

• ekena: with a single/only one
• ekena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; agrees with vāsasā

• saṃvītām: clad/covered
• saṃvītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vī (धातु) + sam (उपसर्ग); saṃvīta (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; kta (past passive participle)

• kliṣṭena: worn/soiled
• kliṣṭena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kliṣṭa (कृदन्त; √kliś)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; agrees with vāsasā; kta participle

• uttama-vāsasā: with a fine garment
• uttama-vāsasā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; karmadhāraya (uttamaṃ vāsas)

• sa-paṅkām: muddy/with dirt
• sa-paṅkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-like prefix) + paṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa meaning "with mud/dirt"

• an-alaṅkārām: unadorned
• an-alaṅkārām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an (नञ्) + alaṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; nañ-tatpuruṣa (without ornaments)

• vi-padmām: lotus-less
• vi-padmām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi (उपसर्ग) + padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; vi- as privative: "devoid of lotuses"

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; upamā-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya

• padminīm: a lotus-pond
• padminīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

Context

She was wearing an excellent single yellow cloth which was soiled. Unadorned, she looked like a muddy lotus-pond bereft of lotuses.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Sītā’s unadorned, austere condition signals steadfast fidelity and inner righteousness: even in captivity she does not turn to comfort or display, holding to truth (satya) and marital constancy as her dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān has located Sītā in Laṅkā and observes her condition—her clothing, lack of ornaments, and the visible marks of hardship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s endurance and unwavering integrity: her external deprivation reflects her inner resolve and refusal to compromise her principles.