Shloka 45

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

श्रेयो मे जीवितान्मर्तुं विहीनाया महात्मनः।।।।रामादक्लिष्टचारित्राच्छूराच्छत्रुनिबर्हणात्।

Transliteration

śreyo me jīvitān martuṃ vihīnāyā mahātmanaḥ | rāmād akliṣṭacāritrāc chūrāc chatrunibarhaṇāt ||

Translation

Für mich, getrennt vom großherzigen Rama – von makellosem Wandel, heldenhaft und ein Vernichter der Feinde – ist der Tod besser als das Leben.

Word by Word

• श्रेयो: better
• श्रेयो: Karta (कर्ता/subject of implied 'asti')
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनार्थक (better)

• मे: for me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदानम्/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (Dative/4th) 'for me'

• जीवितात्: than life
• जीवितात्: Apadana (अपादानम्/comparison: 'than life')
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• मर्तुम्: to die
• मर्तुम्: Karma (कर्म/complement of 'śreyo')
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive)

• विहीनायाः: of (me) separated
• विहीनायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; मे इति सम्बन्ध (of me, being separated)

• महात्मनः: from the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Apadana (अपादानम्/separation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-स्वरूप (महान् आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; रामात् इति विशेषणम्

• रामात्: from Rama
• रामात्: Apadana (अपादानम्/separation: 'from Rama')
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• अक्लिष्ट-चारित्रात्: from the blemishless-charactered one
• अक्लिष्ट-चारित्रात्: Apadana (अपादानम्/separation; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kliṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + cāritra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'अक्लिष्टं चारित्रं यस्य/अक्लिष्टचारित्रः'; पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; रामात् इति विशेषणम्

• शूरात्: from the brave one
• शूरात्: Apadana (अपादानम्/separation; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; रामात् इति विशेषणम्

• शत्रु-निबर्हणात्: from the destroyer of enemies
• शत्रु-निबर्हणात्: Apadana (अपादानम्/separation; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + nibarhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'शत्रूणां निबर्हणः' (destroyer of enemies); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; रामात् इति विशेषणम्

Context

"Instead of living separated from noble and brave Rama, a blemishless character and adestroyer of enemies, it is better for me to die.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the dharmic ideal of unwavering spousal commitment; separation from rightful duty and protector feels worse than death to Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

Under prolonged captivity and threats, Sītā voices suicidal despair rooted in separation from Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s akliṣṭacāritra (stainless conduct) and Sītā’s single-pointed devotion (ananyatā) to her husband.