Shloka 25

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्

Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

नीलनागाभया वेण्या जघनं गतयैकया।नीलया नीरदापाये वनराज्या महीमिव।।।।सुखार्हां दुःखसन्तप्तां व्यसनानामकोविदाम्।

Transliteration

nīlanāgābhayā veṇyā jaghanaṃ gatayaikayā |

nīlayā nīradāpāye vanarājyā mahīm iva ||

sukhārhāṃ duḥkhasantaptāṃ vyasanānām akovidām |

Translation

Con una sola trenza oscura que le caía hasta las caderas, temible como una serpiente negra, se asemejaba a la tierra al final de la estación de lluvias, oscurecida y ceñida por una franja de bosques. Digna de dicha y ajena a la desgracia, ahora estaba abrasada por el dolor.

Word by Word

• nīla-nāga-ābhayā: with a black-serpent-like lustre
• nīla-nāga-ābhayā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + ābhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: "with the sheen/appearance of a black serpent"; agrees with veṇyā

• veṇyā: with a braid
• veṇyā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana

• jaghanam: the hips
• jaghanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

• gatayā: by reaching/touching
• gatayā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; kta participle used instrumentally ("by reaching/touching")

• ekayā: with only one
• ekayā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; agrees with veṇyā/gatayā

• nīlayā: with dark (hue)
• nīlayā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; agrees with vanarājyā

• nīrada-apāye: at the clearing of clouds
• nīrada-apāye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्; time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīrada (प्रातिपदिक) + apāya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: "at the departure of clouds" (end of rainy season)

• vana-rājyā: by a forest-tract
• vana-rājyā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + rājī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: "a line/tract of forest"

• mahīm: the earth
• mahīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; upamā-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya

• sukha-arhām: worthy of happiness
• sukha-arhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + arhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: "worthy of happiness"

• duḥkha-santaptām: burning with sorrow
• duḥkha-santaptām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + santapta (कृदन्त; √tap + sam)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

• vyasanānām: of misfortunes
• vyasanānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyasana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, bahuvacana (plural)

• akovidām: unacquainted (with them)
• akovidām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a (नञ्) + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; nañ-tatpuruṣa: "not experienced/unknowing"

Context

She (from behind) appeared like the earth covered with a range of trees at the end of rainy season with her single long black braid touching her hips looking like a black serpent. She who deserved to be happy and had not experienced worries was burning in grief. (ēkavēṇī is a trait of a prōṣitabhartṛkā Sita who was forced to stay in Lanka was a prōṣitabhartṛkā nāyikā.)

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as constancy under adversity: even one who deserves comfort may be forced into suffering, yet righteousness is maintained through restraint and unwavering commitment to truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān notices Sītā’s single braid and her changed appearance, reading it as a sign of prolonged separation and distress in Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfastness and purity: the single braid and lack of adornment mark a life of austerity while separated from Rāma.