Shloka 21

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

सा गृहीता विचुक्रोश रावणेन यशस्स्विनी।।3.49.21।।रामेति सीता दुःखार्ता रामं दूरगतंवने।

Transliteration

sā gṛhītā vicukrośa rāvaṇena yaśassvinī | rāmeti sītā duḥkhārtā rāmaṃ dūragataṃ vane ||

Translation

ラーヴァナに捕らえられた名高きシーターは、悲嘆に胸を裂かれ、「ラーマ！」と叫んだ――森の彼方にいるラーマを呼び求めて。

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• गृहीता: seized
• गृहीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ग्रह्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विचुक्रोश: cried out
• विचुक्रोश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• यशस्विनी: illustrious
• यशस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus (saying)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दुःखार्ता: distressed with grief
• दुःखार्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख-आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘दुःखेन आर्ता’

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दूरगतम्: gone far away
• दूरगतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर-गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गम्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative), भूतकृदन्त (past active participle sense via ‘गत’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘दूरे गतः’

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Seized by Ravana, illustrious Sita screamed aloud Alas, Rama. for one who was far away in the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Sītā’s call to Rāma reflects satya and dharma in relationship: in crisis she holds to her rightful refuge and marital loyalty rather than yielding to coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

As she is physically taken, Sītā cries out to Rāma, who is not nearby to hear immediately.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast devotion and truthfulness—her mind remains anchored to Rāma even under terror.