Shloka 5.26.7

सीताविलापः — Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

धिङ्मामनार्यामसतीं याहं तेना विना कृता।मुहूर्तमपि रक्षामि जीवितं पापजीविता।।।।

Transliteration

dhiṅ mām anāryām asatīṃ yāhaṃ tenā vinā kṛtā | muhūrtam api rakṣāmi jīvitaṃ pāpajīvitā ||

Translation

Shame on me—ignoble and faithless—that, though separated from him, I still preserve my life even for a moment, living a sinful life.

Context

"I am preserving this sinful life like this though separated from Rama. Fie on me, for this wretched, infidel life !

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma (implied by tena)

FAQs

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

Sītā judges her own survival under coercion through a strict inner moral lens, showing how dharma can function as an uncompromising personal conscience oriented to purity and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Still captive, Sītā condemns herself for continuing to live while separated from Rāma and surrounded by adharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A severe moral introspection (ātma-parīkṣā) and unwavering commitment to conjugal fidelity.