Shloka 60

Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Indra’s Intended Request

Kuṇḍala–Kavaca Discourse

Devanagari script

तत्र सीता मया दृष्टा रावणान्तःपुरे सती । उपवासतप:शीला भर्तदर्शनलालसा

Transliteration

tatra sītā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇāntaḥpure satī | upavāsatapaḥśīlā bhartṛdarśanalālasā ||

Translation

Allí vi a Sītā, la virtuosa, dentro del palacio interior de Rāvaṇa. Se entregaba al ayuno y a la austeridad, y todo su anhelo estaba fijo en la esperanza de volver a ver a su esposo.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

• दृष्टा: seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• रावण: of Ravana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (as first member in compound), Singular

• अन्तःपुरे: in the inner apartments (harem/palace)
• अन्तःपुरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सती: virtuous; chaste
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्
• Form: शतृ/शानच् (present participle used adjectivally) / lexicalized as 'सती', Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• उपवास: fasting
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास
• Form: Masculine, Stem (as first member in compound), Singular

• तपः: austerity
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Stem (as first member in compound), Singular

• शीला: having the habit/nature (of)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• भर्तृ: of (her) husband
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (as first member in compound), Singular

• दर्शन: seeing; sight
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन
• Form: Neuter, Stem (as first member in compound), Singular

• लालसा: eager/longing (for)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लालसा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāvaṇa’s antaḥpura (inner palace quarters)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even under captivity and pressure, dharmic integrity can be preserved through self-restraint and inner discipline. Sītā’s fasting and austerity signify moral steadfastness and refusal to be inwardly conquered, while her longing for her husband reflects loyal commitment rather than despair.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya reports what he witnessed: Sītā residing in Rāvaṇa’s inner quarters. He describes her condition and conduct—she lives by vows of fasting and tapas, remaining virtuous and focused on the hope of seeing her husband again.