Shloka 35

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्

Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

अबलां मृगशाबाक्षीं वीक्षमाणां ततस्ततः।।।।बाष्पाम्बुपरिपूर्णेन कृष्णवक्राक्षिपक्ष्मणा।वदनेनाप्रसन्नेन निःश्वसन्तीं पुनः पुनः।।।।

Transliteration

abalāṃ mṛgaśābākṣīṃ vīkṣamāṇāṃ tatas tataḥ | bāṣpāmbuparipūrṇena kṛṣṇavakrākṣipakṣmaṇā | vadanenāprasannena niḥśvasantīṃ punaḥ punaḥ ||

Translation

Sans force, aux yeux de faon, elle regardait de-ci de-là ; ses yeux, pleins de l’eau des larmes sous des cils noirs et recourbés, le visage sans joie, elle soupirait encore et encore.

Word by Word

• abalām: the helpless woman
• abalām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mṛgaśāba-akṣīm: fawn-eyed
• mṛgaśāba-akṣīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛgaśāba (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (one whose eyes are like a fawn)

• vīkṣamāṇām: looking
• vīkṣamāṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु) + śānac (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (looking)

• tatas: from there / in that direction
• tatas: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• tataḥ: from there (again)
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः = ‘here and there’

• bāṣpa-ambu-paripūrṇena: with (eyes) filled with tears
• bāṣpa-ambu-paripūrṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + paripūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (filled with tear-water)

• kṛṣṇa-vakra-akṣi-pakṣmaṇā: with dark, curved eyelashes
• kṛṣṇa-vakra-akṣi-pakṣmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vakra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (by dark, curved eyelashes of the eyes)

• vadanena: with (her) face
• vadanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण/सहायक-लक्षण

• aprasannena: unhappy, gloomy
• aprasannena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aprasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (unhappy, not bright)

• niḥśvasantīm: sighing
• niḥśvasantīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śvas (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (sighing)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• punaḥ: again (repeatedly)
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः = ‘again and again’

Context

The fawn-eyed lady was looking here and there with her dark, curved eyelashes. Her unhappy face was streaming with tears.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes compassion and protection of the afflicted; seeing innocent suffering becomes a call to righteous intervention.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān observes Sītā’s fear and vigilance—she scans her surroundings while weeping and sighing in captivity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s alert endurance—despite distress, she remains watchful and perseveres.