Valmiki Ramayana 6.48.17 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 17

सीताविलापः—त्रिजटासान्त्वनं च

Sita’s Lament and Trijata’s Consolation

Devanagari script

अदृश्यमानेनरणेमाययावासवोपमौ ।ममनाथावनाथायानिहतौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।।।

Transliteration

adṛśyamānena raṇe māyayā vāsavopamau | mama nāthāv anāthāyā nihatāu rāmalakṣmaṇau ||

Translation

Unsichtbar im Kampf hat er durch eine Zauberlist Rāma und Lakṣmaṇa erschlagen, die beiden an Kraft Vasava gleich. So bin ich, die Beschützer hatte, nun schutzlos geworden.

Word by Word

• adṛśyamānena: by (one) being invisible
• adṛśyamānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adṛśyamāna (कृदन्त; √dṛś + a- उपसर्ग, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; vartamāna-kṛdanta (present participle), instrumental: "by one who is invisible / while being unseen"

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; locative

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negative particle)

• māyayā: by magic/illusion
• māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental

• vāsava-upamau: equal to Indra
• vāsava-upamau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Dvivacana; tatpuruṣa: vāsavasya upamau = "equal to Indra"; agrees with rāma-lakṣmaṇau

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive pronoun

• nāthau: (my) lords/protectors
• nāthau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Dvivacana; nominative dual

• anāthāyāḥ: of (me) helpless/orphaned
• anāthāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anāthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive: "of the helpless/orphaned (woman)"

• nihatau: slain
• nihatau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata (कृदन्त; √han + ni- उपसर्ग, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Dvivacana; past passive participle (kta): "slain"

• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana
• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Dvivacana; itaretara-dvandva: "Rama and Lakshmana"

Context

"Indrajith remaining invisible in war by conjuring could kill my husband who is equal to Indra in valour. Rama and Lakshmana! I am orphaned now."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Indrajit (implied as the invisible deceiver)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma operates through concealment and illusion, producing despair; dharma, by contrast, relies on truth and open conduct—Sītā’s suffering is intensified by the sense of an unfair, hidden assault.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reacts to the report/appearance that Indrajit, fighting invisibly through māyā, has felled Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fidelity and dependence on righteous protection (pativratā-bhāva) is foregrounded—she interprets the loss of Rāma as becoming anāthā, without refuge.