Shloka 44

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

किं नु मे न गुणाः केचित्किं वा भाग्यक्षयो मम।।।। याहं सीदामि रामेण हीना मुख्येन भामिनी।

Transliteration

kiṃ nu me na guṇāḥ kecit kiṃ vā bhāgyakṣayo mama | yāhaṃ sīdāmi rāmeṇa hīnā mukhyena bhāminī ||

Translation

Habe ich denn keinerlei Tugend, oder ist mein Glück erschöpft, dass ich—eine Frau von Rang—im Kummer versinke, getrennt vom erhabensten Rāma?

Word by Word

• किम्: why?/what?
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/interrogation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• नु: indeed (question particle)
• नु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/interrogation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/अनुनयार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• मे: of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/of me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी 'of me'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kacid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite) गुणाः इति विशेषणम्

• किम्: or what?
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/interrogation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• भाग्य-क्षयः: loss of fortune
• भाग्य-क्षयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'भाग्यस्य क्षयः'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/of me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• या: (I) who
• या: Karta (कर्ता/subject of 'sīdāmi')
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सीदामि: sink / languish
• सीदामि: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• रामेण: from Rama
• रामेण: Apadana (अपादानम्/separation: 'from Rama')
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हीना इति विशेषणस्य सहकारक (instrumental of separation/association)

• हीना: deprived (of)
• हीना: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अहम्/या इति विशेषणम्

• मुख्येन: the foremost
• मुख्येन: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; रामेण इति विशेषणम्

• भामिनी: a lovely woman
• भामिनी: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/स्ववर्णन (as epithet)

Context

"Do I, a charming lady, not have any good fortune because of my past deeds? I wonder how a foremost woman like me seperated from my husband is sinking in grief without Rama. Has my fortune diminished?

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse frames suffering as a moment for self-examination rather than blame—an ethical discipline of introspection aligned with dharma and karmic responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, overwhelmed by separation, questions whether her misfortune reflects a loss of merit or destiny turning against her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s moral seriousness and humility—she tests herself against the standards of virtue rather than assuming injustice.