Shloka 22

सीताव्यथा

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

Devanagari script

आयाचमानां दुःखार्तां प्राञ्जलिं देवतामिव।भावेन रघुमुख्यस्य दशग्रीवपराभवम्।।।।

Transliteration

āyācamānāṃ duḥkhārtāṃ prāñjaliṃ devatām iva |

bhāvena raghumukhyasya daśagrīvaparābhavam ||

Translation

Von Kummer gequält, glich sie einer Göttin, die mit gefalteten Händen flehend dasteht, und bat im Innersten Rāma, den Ersten der Raghu, um die Beschämung und Niederlage Daśagrīvas (Rāvaṇas).

Word by Word

• āyācamānām: begging/supplicating
• āyācamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√yāc (धातु) + āyācamāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (supplicating)

• duḥkhārtām: afflicted with sorrow
• duḥkhārtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (duḥkhena ārtaḥ)

• prāñjalim: with folded hands
• prāñjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'प्राञ्जलि' = अञ्जलि-युक्त (with folded hands)

• devatām: a goddess
• devatām: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Upamana-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक निपात

• bhāvena: by (her) feeling/intent
• bhāvena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भावे (by feeling/intent)

• raghu-mukhyasya: of the foremost of the Raghus (Rama)
• raghu-mukhyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (raghūṇāṃ mukhyaḥ)

• daśagrīva-parābhavam: the defeat/overthrow of Daśagrīva (Ravana)
• daśagrīva-parābhavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक) + parābhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (daśagrīvasya parābhavaḥ)

Context

She was as though moving towards the knower of the self, the supreme king, Rama with the horses of her resolution yoked to the chariot of her mind.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Raghu
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Appeal to righteous authority for the defeat of adharma: Sītā’s inner prayer aligns justice with dharma rather than personal vengeance.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, overwhelmed by grief, is portrayed as mentally entreating Rāma to overcome Rāvaṇa’s wrongdoing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śraddhā (trust) and dharma-niṣṭhā (commitment to righteousness), expressed as inward prayerful resolve.