Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 10

षष्टितमः सर्गः — Kausalyā’s Lament and Sumantra’s Consolation

Sītā’s Fearless Forest-Life

Devanagari script

बालेव रमते सीताऽबालचन्द्रनिभानना।रामा रामे ह्यधीनात्मा विजनेऽपि वने सती।।।।

Transliteration

bāleva ramate sītā bālacandranibhānanā |

rāmā rāme hy adhīnātmā vijane 'pi vane satī ||

Translation

Sītā, de rostro semejante a la luna joven, mantiene toda su mente dependiente de Rāma; y aunque está en el bosque solitario, se deleita en él como una niña, siendo virtuosa.

Word by Word

• bāla: a child
• bāla: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular); उपमान-पदम्

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (उपमा-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle: 'like')

• ramate: enjoys
• ramate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: लट्; आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• abāla-candra-nibhā-ānanā: whose face resembles the full moon
• abāla-candra-nibhā-ānanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + nibhā (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः (यस्या आननं अबालचन्द्रनिभम्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• rāmā: the lovely lady
• rāmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'सुन्दरी/रमणी' अर्थे

• rāme: in/with Rama
• rāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (particle: 'indeed/for')

• adhīnātmā: whose mind is dependent (on him)
• adhīnātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhīna (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः (यस्याः आत्मा अधीनः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vijane: in a lonely place
• vijane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vijana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुं/नपुंसक; सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'even'

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• satī: being/staying
• satī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle, feminine); धातुः √अस्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः 'being/staying'

Context

Charming Sita whose face resembles the full Moon, with her mind fixed on Rama, is enjoying even the desolate forest like a child.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Rama
• Forest

FAQs

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

It presents steadfast companionship and loyalty as dharma: Sītā’s joy arises from being with Rāma, showing that righteous commitment can transform hardship into bearable experience.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra describes Sītā’s demeanor during the journey into exile, emphasizing her calm joy and unwavering focus on Rāma despite the forest’s isolation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-minded devotion and resilience—Sītā’s capacity to remain joyful and composed because her mind rests in Rāma.