Shloka 17

सीताविलापः—त्रिजटासान्त्वनं च

Sita’s Lament and Trijata’s Consolation

Devanagari script

अदृश्यमानेनरणेमाययावासवोपमौ ।ममनाथावनाथायानिहतौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।।।

Transliteration

adṛśyamānena raṇe māyayā vāsavopamau | mama nāthāv anāthāyā nihatāu rāmalakṣmaṇau ||

Translation

戦場で姿を見せぬまま、妖術の策によって、ヴァーサヴァに比する武勇のラーマとラクシュマナを彼は討った。こうして守り手を持っていた私は、守り手なき者となった。

Word by Word

• adṛśyamānena: by (one) being invisible
• adṛśyamānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adṛśyamāna (कृदन्त; √dṛś + a- उपसर्ग, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; vartamāna-kṛdanta (present participle), instrumental: "by one who is invisible / while being unseen"

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; locative

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negative particle)

• māyayā: by magic/illusion
• māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental

• vāsava-upamau: equal to Indra
• vāsava-upamau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Dvivacana; tatpuruṣa: vāsavasya upamau = "equal to Indra"; agrees with rāma-lakṣmaṇau

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive pronoun

• nāthau: (my) lords/protectors
• nāthau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Dvivacana; nominative dual

• anāthāyāḥ: of (me) helpless/orphaned
• anāthāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anāthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive: "of the helpless/orphaned (woman)"

• nihatau: slain
• nihatau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata (कृदन्त; √han + ni- उपसर्ग, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Dvivacana; past passive participle (kta): "slain"

• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana
• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Dvivacana; itaretara-dvandva: "Rama and Lakshmana"

Context

"Indrajith remaining invisible in war by conjuring could kill my husband who is equal to Indra in valour. Rama and Lakshmana! I am orphaned now."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Indrajit (implied as the invisible deceiver)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma operates through concealment and illusion, producing despair; dharma, by contrast, relies on truth and open conduct—Sītā’s suffering is intensified by the sense of an unfair, hidden assault.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reacts to the report/appearance that Indrajit, fighting invisibly through māyā, has felled Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fidelity and dependence on righteous protection (pativratā-bhāva) is foregrounded—she interprets the loss of Rāma as becoming anāthā, without refuge.