Shloka 39

सीताविलापः

Sītā’s Lament over the Illusory Head and Bow

Devanagari script

सतुसर्वंसमर्थ्यैवमन्त्रिभिःकृत्यमात्मनः ।सभांप्रविश्यविदधेविदित्वारामविक्रमम् ।।6.32.39।।

Transliteration

sa tu sarvaṃ samarthyaiva mantribhiḥ kṛtyam ātmanaḥ | sabhāṃ praviśya vidadhe viditvā rāma-vikramam ||6.32.39||

Translation

Ayant compris la vaillance de Rāma, et après avoir délibéré avec ses ministres sur ce qu’il convenait de faire, il entra dans l’assemblée et prit les mesures requises.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, prathamā, ekavacana

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (तु अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; vākya-sambandha-nipāta (contrast/emphasis particle)

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, dvitīyā (accusative), ekavacana; object of samarthya

• samarthya: having deliberated/considered
• samarthya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-arth (समर्थ्/अर्थ् धातु; ‘to consider/arrange’)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय; ‘having considered/arranged’)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (एव अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; avadhāraṇa-nipāta (restrictive/emphatic particle)

• mantribhiḥ: with/by the ministers
• mantribhiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (मन्त्रिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, tṛtīyā (instrumental/तृतीया), bahuvacana; sahakārī-karaṇa (with/through ministers)

• kṛtyam: the task/duty
• kṛtyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (कृत्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, dvitīyā, ekavacana; object of vidadhe (‘performed the duty’)

• ātmanaḥ: of himself
• ātmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, ṣaṣṭhī (genitive), ekavacana

• sabhām: the assembly hall
• sabhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sabhā (सभा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, dvitīyā, ekavacana; goal with praviśya

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (विश् धातु) with pra-
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्); ‘having entered’

• vidadhe: he carried out/arranged
• vidadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु) with vi-
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), prathama-puruṣa, ekavacana; ātmanepada

• viditvā: having known
• viditvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (विद् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा); ‘having known’

• rāma-vikramam: Rāma's prowess
• rāma-vikramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (राम प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (विक्रम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, dvitīyā, ekavacana; object of viditvā

Context

Having known all about Rama's prowess, Ravana and ministers entered the assembly to think carefully about the task to be carried out and how to do it.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• ministers (mantrin)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as prudent decision-making: assessing an opponent truthfully (satya about facts) and deliberating on duty (kṛtya) before acting—an ideal procedural ethic for leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, now aware of Rāma’s strength, consults with ministers and enters the royal assembly to plan the next steps.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Realism and strategic prudence—recognizing the adversary’s capability and responding through counsel and planning.