Shloka 34

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्

Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

अभूतेनापवादेन कीर्तिं निपतितामिव।।।।रामोपरोधव्यथितां रक्षोहरणकर्शिताम्।

Transliteration

abhūtenāpavādena kīrtiṃ nipatitām iva | rāmoparodavyathitāṃ rakṣoharaṇakarśitām ||

Translation

Sie erschien wie ein Ruf, durch grundlose Verleumdung zu Boden geworfen—gequält durch das Hindernis, Rāma zu erreichen, und ausgezehrt durch die Entführung durch den Rākṣasa.

Word by Word

• abhūtena: false, untrue
• abhūtena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying apavādena)

• apavādena: by slander/rumour
• apavādena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apavāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण

• kīrtim: fame
• kīrtim: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान

• nipatitām: fallen
• nipatitām: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nipatita (प्रातिपदिक; √pat धातु-निष्ठा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• rāma-upa-rodha-vyathitām: pained by the obstruction (to Rama)
• rāma-upa-rodha-vyathitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + uparodha (प्रातिपदिक) + vyathita (प्रातिपदिक; √vyath धातु-निष्ठा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (pained by obstruction regarding Rāma/meeting Rāma)

• rakṣo-haraṇa-karśitām: emaciated by the demons' abduction
• rakṣo-haraṇa-karśitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + haraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + karśita (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛś धातु-निष्ठा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (emaciated due to demon-abduction)

Context

She appeared like fame besmirched by false allegation. She was pained by the obstruction to meet Rama and emaciated by abduction.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Rākṣasa (abductor—contextually Rāvaṇa, though not named here)

FAQs

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

Satya is central: false accusation destroys reputation like a fall. Dharma demands resisting slander and upholding truth about the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān notes Sītā’s weakened state and her anguish at being prevented from reuniting with Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fidelity and truthfulness—her reputation is unjustly threatened, yet her virtue remains unbroken.