Shloka 21

सीताव्यथा

वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement

Devanagari script

उपवासेन शोकेन ध्यानेन च भयेन च।परिक्षीणां कृशां दीनामल्पाहारां तपोधनाम्।।।।

Transliteration

upavāsena śokena dhyānena ca bhayena ca |

parikṣīṇāṃ kṛśāṃ dīnām alpāhārāṃ tapodhanām ||

Translation

Durch Fasten und Kummer, durch Grübeln und Furcht verzehrt, war sie erschöpft, mager und niedergeschlagen—wenig essend, doch reich am Schatz der Askese (tapas).

Word by Word

• upavāsena: by fasting
• upavāsena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śokena: by grief
• śokena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhyānena: by meditation/brooding
• dhyānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• bhayena: by fear
• bhayena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• parikṣīṇām: wasted away
• parikṣīṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√kṣi (धातु) + parikṣīṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (wasted/emaciated)

• kṛśām: thin, emaciated
• kṛśām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dīnām: wretched, dejected
• dīnām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• alpa-āhārām: taking little food
• alpa-āhārām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (alpaḥ āhāraḥ yasyāḥ / alpa-āhāraḥ)

• tapo-dhanām: whose wealth is austerity
• tapo-dhanām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (tapas eva dhanaṃ yasyāḥ)

Context

Her body looked colourful with dust. Although she deserved adornment, she had none. She was like a lotus stem in mud looking bright yet dull (with mud).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma can be guarded through tapas—self-restraint and refusal to be morally broken by fear; suffering is not allowed to become untruth.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā’s physical decline is described as the result of captivity, threats, and constant sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tapas and self-control—strength expressed as disciplined endurance rather than outward power.