Shloka 15

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

निरुद्धा रावणेनाहमल्पवीर्येण रक्षसा।समर्थः खलु मे भर्ता रावणं हन्तुमाहवे।।।।

Transliteration

niruddhā rāvaṇenāham alpavīryeṇa rakṣasā | samarthaḥ khalu me bhartā rāvaṇaṃ hantum āhave ||

Translation

Ich werde von Rāvaṇa gefangen gehalten, einem Rākṣasa von geringer Tapferkeit; doch mein Gemahl ist gewiss imstande, Rāvaṇa im Kampf zu erschlagen.

Word by Word

• निरुद्धा: confined/held captive
• निरुद्धा: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुद्ध (कृदन्त; निर्+√रुध् धातु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle (predicate of अहम्)

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• अल्पवीर्येण: of little strength
• अल्पवीर्येण: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प-वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; qualifies रक्षसा

• रक्षसा: by the demon
• रक्षसा: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• समर्थः: capable
• समर्थः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of भर्ता

• खलु: indeed/surely
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; enclitic

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु; तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्-अन्त)

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Context

"Rama, my husband, for sure, is capable of killing in battle this Ravana who has held me captive and who is a demon of inferior valour.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Steadfast trust in righteous protection: Sītā affirms that dharmic strength ultimately prevails over adharma, even when she is unjustly confined.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s Aśoka-grove, Sītā laments her captivity and reflects on Rāma’s ability to defeat Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s vīrya (heroic capability) and Sītā’s unwavering faith in his righteous power.