Shloka 16

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Resolve under Threat

Devanagari script

सा जीवितं क्षिप्रमहं त्यजेयं विषेण शस्त्रेण शितेन वापि।विषस्य दाता न हि मेऽस्ति कश्चि च्छस्त्रस्य वा वेश्मनि राक्षसस्य।।5.28.16।।

Transliteration

sā jīvitaṃ kṣipram ahaṃ tyajeyaṃ viṣeṇa śastreṇa śitena vāpi |

viṣasya dātā na hi me’sti kaścid chastrasya vā veśmani rākṣasasya ||5.28.16||

Translation

私は毒や鋭い武器によって、今すぐにでも命を絶ちたい。しかし、この羅刹の家には、私に毒や武器を渡してくれる者は誰もいない。

Word by Word

साshe (that woman)

जीवितम्life

क्षिप्रम्quickly, at once

अहम्I

त्यजेयम्I would give up / should abandon

विषेणby poison

शस्त्रेणby a weapon

शितेनby a sharp (one)

वाor

अपिalso, even

विषस्यof poison

दाताgiver, provider

नnot

हिindeed, for

मेfor me / to me

अस्तिis, exists

कश्चित्someone, anyone

शस्त्रस्यof a weapon

वाor

वेश्मनिin the house/residence

राक्षसस्यof the demon (Rakshasa)

Context

"I will end my life at once by taking poison or else by a sharp weapon. Alas! There is none to give get me poison or a weapon at this demon's residence".

Characters & Entities

Sita

Rākṣasa

FAQs

How does this verse relate to Dharma and Satya in the Ramayana?

Sita’s impulse to end her life arises from unbearable coercion, yet the verse also shows her moral clarity: she does not seek compromise with adharma, and her steadfast truthfulness and fidelity remain central even in despair.

Why does Sita say there is no one to give her poison or a weapon in the rākṣasa’s house?

She is under strict captivity in the enemy’s residence, without allies or access to means of self-harm; the line underscores her helplessness and the controlled, hostile environment around her.