Shloka 8

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats

Devanagari script

सा वेपमाना पतिता प्रवाते कदली यथा।राक्षसीनां भयत्रस्ता विवर्णवदनाभवत्।।5.25.8।।

Transliteration

sā vepamānā patitā pravāte kadalī yathā | rākṣasīnāṁ bhaya-trastā vivarṇa-vadanābhavat || 5.25.8 ||

Translation

Zitternd wie eine Bananenstaude, die ein heftiger Wind zu Boden wirft, wurde Sītā, von den Rākṣasīs erschreckt, bleich im Antlitz.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वेपमाना: trembling
• वेपमाना: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेप् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच् (present middle participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'trembling'

• पतिता: fallen
• पतिता: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'fallen'

• प्रवाते: in a gusty wind
• प्रवाते: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative 'in/under a strong wind'

• कदली: banana plant
• कदली: उपमान
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'banana plant' (simile base)

• यथा: like
• यथा: उपमा-निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative): 'as/like'

• राक्षसीनाम्: of the ogresses
• राक्षसीनाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• भयत्रस्ता: frightened
• भयत्रस्ता: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + त्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'भयेन त्रस्ता'

• विवर्णवदना: pale-faced
• विवर्णवदना: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्ण + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'विवर्णं वदनं यस्याः सा'

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'became'

Context

Trembling like a banana tree uprooted by the stormy wind, Sita who was seized with fear of the ogresses looked pale and desperate.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• rākṣasīs

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested under coercion: the verse frames Sītā’s fear as a human response while implying the ethical struggle of remaining true (satya) despite intimidation.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā is surrounded by hostile rākṣasīs; the atmosphere of threat makes her tremble and lose color.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage: even when physically shaken, she continues to resist the forces pressing her toward adharma.