Shloka 13

सीताविलापः—त्रिजटासान्त्वनं च

Sita’s Lament and Trijata’s Consolation

Devanagari script

समग्रयवमच्छ्रिद्रपाणिपादंचवर्णवत् ।मन्दस्मितेत्येवचमांकन्यालाक्षणिनोद्विजाः ।।।।

Transliteration

samagrayavam acchridra-pāṇipādaṃ ca varṇavat |

mandasmite 'ty eva ca māṃ kanyālākṣaṇino dvijāḥ ||

Translation

Ils ont décrit mes paumes et mes pieds comme compacts et sans espaces, signes de bon augure ; et ils ont dit que mon doux sourire est aussi un signe favorable.

Word by Word

• samagra-yavam: with complete barley-grain marks
• samagra-yavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samagra (प्रातिपदिक) + yava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya qualifying pāṇipādam (having complete 'yava' marks)

• acchridra-pāṇipādam: hands and feet without gaps
• acchridra-pāṇipādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-chidra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; dvandva: pāṇi ca pāda ca; with adjective a-chidra (without gaps)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya conjunction

• varṇavat: well-described/marked
• varṇavat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of (acchridra-pāṇipādam)

• manda-smite: O gentle-smiling one
• manda-smite: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक) + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana; address to Sītā

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण) particle

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya conjunction

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• āhuḥ: said/called
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• kanyā-lākṣaṇinaḥ: experts in signs of maidens
• kanyā-lākṣaṇinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक) + lākṣaṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: kanyāyāḥ lākṣaṇinaḥ (experts in maiden-marks)

• dvijāḥ: brahmins
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

Context

"My palms and feet placed together have no space which are auspicious marks and brahmins have said that my gentle smile is also a mark of auspiciousness."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

It points to the limitation of external validation. Dharma ultimately depends on inner steadfastness and truth, not merely on socially recognized ‘signs’.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā continues recalling what Brahmins said about her auspicious traits, as she grieves the apparent loss of her protectors.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility—Sītā does not boast; she mournfully questions why such signs did not prevent catastrophe.