Shloka 14

Devanagari script

ततः सा सहसा बाला तच्छुत्वा दारुणं वच: । पपात देवी व्यथिता निकृत्ता कदली यथा,सहसा यह कठोर वचन सुनकर देवी सीता व्यथित हो कटे हुए केलेके वृक्षकी भाँति सहसा पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ी

Transliteration

tataḥ sā sahasā bālā tac chrutvā dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ | papāta devī vyathitā nikṛttā kadalī yathā ||

Translation

Then the young maiden, on suddenly hearing those cruel words, was shaken with anguish; the noble lady fell at once to the ground, like a banana plant cut down—an image of utter collapse under the shock of harsh speech.

Word by Word

ततःthen; thereupon

साshe

सहसाsuddenly

बालाyoung girl

तत्that (speech/statement)

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

दारुणम्harsh; dreadful

वचःword; speech

पपातfell

देवीthe lady; the goddess-like one

व्यथिताdistressed; pained

निकृत्ताcut down

कदलीbanana plant

यथाas; like

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

devī (the lady, identified in the given context as Sītā)

kadalī (banana plant)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: harsh words can wound as powerfully as physical blows, causing immediate collapse of courage and composure. It implicitly upholds restraint, compassion, and responsibility in speaking.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing a sudden, cruel statement, the young lady is overwhelmed with distress and falls to the ground instantly. The simile of a banana plant cut down emphasizes how abruptly and completely she is brought down by the shock.