Shloka 24

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्

Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

प्रियं जनमपश्यन्तीं पश्यन्तीं राक्षसीगणम्।स्वगणेन मृगीं हीनां श्वगणाभिवृतामिव।।।।

Transliteration

priyaṃ janam apaśyantīṃ paśyantīṃ rākṣasīgaṇam |

svagaṇena mṛgīṃ hīnāṃ śvagaṇābhivṛtām iva ||

Translation

Ne pouvant apercevoir ses proches bien-aimés et ne voyant que la troupe des rākṣasīs, elle semblait telle une biche séparée de son troupeau et encerclée par une meute de chiens.

Word by Word

• priyam: dear
• priyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; qualifies janam

• janam: people/kinsfolk
• janam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

• apaśyantīm: not seeing
• apaśyantīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) with nañ?; apa-√dṛś; apaśyantī (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle/शतृ)

• paśyantīm: seeing
• paśyantīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dṛś (धातु); paśyantī (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; present active participle

• rākṣasī-gaṇam: the troop of demonesses
• rākṣasī-gaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: "group of rākṣasīs"

• svagaṇena: by her own herd/company
• svagaṇena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: "by her own group"

• mṛgīm: a doe
• mṛgīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

• hīnām: deprived of
• hīnām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √hā)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

• śvagaṇa-abhivṛtām: surrounded by hounds
• śvagaṇa-abhivṛtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śva-gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhivṛta (कृदन्त; abhi-√vṛ)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: "surrounded by a pack of dogs"; abhivṛta = kta participle

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

Context

Unable to see her dear kith and kin, she sat guarded by ogresses. She appeared like a doe separated from the herd and encircled by a pack of hounds.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rākṣasīs

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly condemns adharma as coercion and intimidation: isolating the innocent and surrounding her with threats violates righteous conduct and the duty to protect the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā is depicted as isolated from her loved ones and guarded by rākṣasīs in Aśoka-vana, intensifying the sense of danger and captivity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s vulnerability highlights her moral innocence; Hanumān’s attentive witnessing prepares the ground for righteous rescue.