Shloka 24

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

हा लक्ष्मण महाबाहो गुरुचित्तप्रसादक।।3.49.24।।ह्रियमाणां न जानीषे रक्षसा माममर्षिणा।

Transliteration

hā lakṣmaṇa mahābāho gurucittaprasādaka | hriyamāṇāṃ na jānīṣe rakṣasā mām amarṣiṇā ||

Translation

ഹാ ലക്ഷ്മണ മഹാബാഹോ—ഒരിക്കൽ ജ്യേഷ്ഠനായ രാമന്റെ ഹൃദയം പ്രസാദിപ്പിച്ചവനേ—ക്രോധമുള്ള രാക്ഷസൻ എന്നെ ബലമായി അപഹരിച്ചു കൊണ്ടുപോകുന്നതു നീ അറിയുന്നില്ലേ?

Word by Word

• हा: alas
• हा: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/शोक-उद्गार (interjection)

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; vocative

• महाबाहो: O long-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् बाहुः यस्य)

• गुरुचित्तप्रसादक: O gladdener of your elder’s mind
• गुरुचित्तप्रसादक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + चित्त + प्रसादक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः चित्तस्य प्रसादकः)

• ह्रियमाणाम्: (me) being carried away
• ह्रियमाणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘being carried away’ (object ‘me’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• जानीषे: you know
• जानीषे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• रक्षसा: by a demon
• रक्षसा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agent in passive

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (speaker), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun ‘me’

• अमर्षिणा: by the wrathful one
• अमर्षिणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘रक्षसा’

Context

Alas, O long-armed Lakshmana, you who used to entertain your brother do not know that I am being carried away by this ruthless demon.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāvaṇa (rakṣasa)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is protective responsibility within family and society: the cry underscores the expectation that the righteous safeguard the vulnerable when danger arises.

What is the narrative situation?

While being abducted, Sītā calls out to Lakṣmaṇa, lamenting that he does not know what is happening.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s service-minded devotion is referenced (“soothing the elder brother’s mind”), highlighting fraternal loyalty as a virtue—even as the moment tragically lacks protection.