Shloka 43

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

दृश्यमाने भवेत्प्रीति स्सौहृदं नास्त्यपश्यतः।।।।नाशयन्ति कृतघ्नास्तु न रामो नाशयिष्यति।

Transliteration

dṛśyamāne bhavet prītiḥ sauhṛdaṃ nāsty apaśyataḥ | nāśayanti kṛtaghnās tu na rāmo nāśayiṣyati ||

Translation

Liebe wächst, wenn man einander vor Augen hat; Freundschaft besteht nicht, wenn man einander nicht sieht. Undankbare zerstören solche Bande—doch Rāma wird sie nicht zerstören.

Word by Word

दृश्यमानेwhen (someone) is being seen / in presence

भवेत्would arise

प्रीतिःaffection

सौहृदम्friendship

नnot

अस्तिexists

अपश्यतःof one who does not see (is absent)

नाशयन्तिdestroy / cause to perish

कृतघ्नाःthe ungrateful

तुbut

नnot

रामःRama

नाशयिष्यतिwill destroy / will cause to perish

Context

"Love attaches itself to one who remains before one's eyes.Friendship fades with separation. The ungrateful destroy love and friendship (as their love is conditioned by frequent meetings). But it cannot happen in case of Rama.

Characters & Entities

Sītā

Rāma

FAQs

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

True dharmic love is not dependent on proximity; it is sustained by integrity and gratitude, not by convenience.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reflects on how separation tests relationships, and reassures herself that Rāma’s character is not like that of the ungrateful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s fidelity and constancy (anapāyinī prīti), contrasted with the fickleness of the kṛtaghna (ungrateful).