Shloka 18

सीताभर्त्सना

The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

Devanagari script

ततस्तां शिंशुपां सीता राक्षसीभिः समावृता।।5.24.18।।अभिगम्य विशालाक्षी तस्थौ शोकपरिप्लुता।

Transliteration

tatas tāṃ śiṃśupāṃ sītā rākṣasībhiḥ samāvṛtā ॥5.24.18॥

abhigamya viśālākṣī tasthau śoka-pariplutā ।

Translation

Da gelangte Sītā, die Weitblickende, von Kummer überflutet, zu jenem Śiṃśupā-Baum und blieb dort stehen, von den Rākṣasīs umringt.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• tām: that (her/that one)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• śiṃśupām: the śiṃśupā tree
• śiṃśupām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṃśupā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• rākṣasībhiḥ: by the ogresses
• rākṣasībhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• samāvṛtā: surrounded
• samāvṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-āvṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘surrounded’ (passive sense)

• abhigamya: having approached
• abhigamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi-gam (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-रूप कृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त = ल्यप्), ‘having approached/reached’

• viśālākṣī: the large-eyed (lady)
• viśālākṣī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāla + akṣī (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (one whose eyes are large), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; epithet used as noun

• tasthau: stood/stayed
• tasthau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śokapariplutā: overwhelmed by sorrow
• śokapariplutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka + pariplutā (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (śokena pariplutā = flooded with sorrow), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Then the large-eyed Sita, drowned in sorrow surrounded by the ogresses went near the simsupa tree and stood there.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• rākṣasī (ogresses)
• Śiṃśupā tree

FAQs

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

Even when surrounded by oppression, dharma can be maintained inwardly through steadfastness and refusal to accept wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reaches the śiṃśupā tree and remains there while the guards encircle her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Inner strength amid grief—continuing to stand firm without moral collapse.