Valmiki Ramayana 6.48.26 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 26

सीताविलापः—त्रिजटासान्त्वनं च

Sita’s Lament and Trijata’s Consolation

Devanagari script

हतवीरप्रधानाहिगतोत्साहानिरुद्यमा ।सेनाभ्रमतिसङ् ख्येषुहतकर्णेवनौर्जले ।।।।

Transliteration

hatavīrapradhānā hi gatotsāhā nirudyamā | senā bhramati saṅkhyeṣu hatakarṇeva naur jale ||

Translation

मुख्य वीरों के मारे जाने पर सेना का उत्साह नष्ट हो जाता है, वह निष्क्रिय हो जाती है; वह रण में वैसे भटकती है जैसे जल में कर्णधार-विहीन नौका।

Word by Word

• hata-vīra-pradhānā: with its chief heroes slain
• hata-vīra-pradhānā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त; √han, क्त) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (multi-member): hataḥ vīra-pradhānaḥ yasyāḥ sā = "whose chief heroes are slain"; agrees with senā

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (indeed)

• gata-utsāhā: having lost spirit
• gata-utsāhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam, क्त) + utsāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: gataḥ utsāhaḥ yasyāḥ = "whose enthusiasm is gone"; agrees with senā

• nirudyamā: inactive
• nirudyamā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirudyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; adjective: "without effort/activity"; agrees with senā

• senā: the army
• senā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: senā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; subject

• bhramati: wanders/reels
• bhramati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhram (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• saṅkhyeṣu: in battles
• saṅkhyeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana; locative plural: "in battles/engagements"

• hata-karṇā: with helmsman slain
• hata-karṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त; √han, क्त) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: hataḥ karṇaḥ (steersman/helmsman) yasyāḥ = "whose helmsman is slain"; agrees with nauḥ (implied comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (comparative particle: like)

• nauḥ: a ship
• nauḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; nominative

• jale: in water
• jale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; locative

Context

"The army chief killed, the interest of the troop lost, Pushpaka will move about without making an effort like the ship which lost the helmsman."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma (implied by context)
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied by context)

FAQs

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

Dharma highlights responsible leadership: the welfare and steadiness of many depend on the presence and guidance of worthy leaders.

What is the narrative situation?

To counter the claim that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are dead, the speaker notes that a leaderless force would collapse and drift—yet the opposing side’s situation does not match that pattern.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Insight into governance and human psychology—understanding how courage and order arise from capable leadership.