Shloka 10

सीतावृत्तान्तनिवेदनम् / Report of Sītā’s Condition and Tokens of Recognition

Devanagari script

तत्र दृष्टा मया सीता रावणान्तः पुरे सती।।।।सन्न्यस्य त्वयि जीवन्ती रामा राम मनोरथम्।

Transliteration

tatra dṛṣṭā mayā sītā rāvaṇāntaḥ pure satī |

sannyasya tvayi jīvantī rāmā rāma manoratham ||

Translation

Dort sah ich Sītā, deine treue Gemahlin, in den inneren Gemächern Rāvaṇas. Sie lebt, ihre Hoffnung allein auf dich gerichtet, und hat jedes andere Begehren beiseitegelegt.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देश-अव्यय) ‘there’

• dṛṣṭā: was seen
• dṛṣṭā: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + क्त (Kṛdanta)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate with sītā

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartṛ (कर्ता; agent in passive, तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘by me’

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karma (कर्म; patient in passive / subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāvaṇa-antaḥ: inside (Rāvaṇa’s)
• rāvaṇa-antaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + antaḥ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) used adverbially with pure; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: rāvaṇasya antaḥ ‘inside of Rāvaṇa (his palace interior)’

• pure: in the city/palace
• pure: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• satī: being (there) / remaining
• satī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √as (धातु) + शतृ (Kṛdanta) / satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘being/remaining’; qualifying sītā

• sannyasya: having placed/entrusted
• sannyasya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ni-√as/√nyas (धातु) + ल्यप् (Kṛdanta)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having laid down/entrusted/placed’

• tvayi: in you / upon you
• tvayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; locus/recipient as ‘in you’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• jīvantī: living/surviving
• jīvantī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jīv (धातु) + शतृ (Kṛdanta)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying sītā

• rāmā: Rāmā (Sītā)
• rāmā: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण; apposition to sītā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet/name of Sītā (‘Rāmā’)

• rāma: O Rāma
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन; address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• manoratham: hope/desire
• manoratham: Karma (कर्म; object of sannyasya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: manasaḥ rathaḥ ‘desire/hope’

Context

"There in the inner palace of Ravana, I saw your lovely wife Sita, with all her hopes pinned on you, giving up all other desires.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sītā
• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāvaṇa’s inner palace

FAQs

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

Steadfast fidelity and truthfulness: Sītā’s unwavering loyalty to Rāma is presented as righteous conduct under duress.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān begins his direct report to Rāma, stating he has seen Sītā in the inner quarters of Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Constancy (dhairya) and pativratā-dharma—exclusive devotion despite captivity.