Shloka 5.53.26

लाङ्गूलदाह-पर्यटनम् (The Burning Tail and the Parade through Laṅkā)

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं क्रूरमात्मापहरणोपमम्।।5.53.26।।वैदेही शोकसन्तप्ता हुताशनमुपागमत्।

Transliteration

śrutvā tad vacanaṃ krūram ātmāpaharaṇopamam | vaidehī śoka-santaptā hutāśanam upāgamat ||5.53.26||

Translation

Hearing those cruel words—painful like her own abduction—Vaidehī, scorched by grief, turned to the Fire-god and invoked him.

Context

Distressed on hearing the news which was as cruel as her own abduction Sita started burning with grief and invoked the fire-god.

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Agni/Hutāśana
• abduction (ātmāpaharaṇa; reference to Sītā-haraṇa)

FAQs

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

In distress, dharma seeks refuge in truth and divine witness: Sītā turns to Agni, associated with purity and satya, rather than yielding to helplessness.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing that Hanumān is being tortured, Sītā is overwhelmed and immediately appeals to Agni for protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate fidelity: Sītā’s heart responds to another’s suffering as intensely as her own.