Shloka 1

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats

Devanagari script

अथ तासां वदन्तीनां परुषं दारुणं बहु।राक्षसीनामासौम्यानां रुरोद जनकात्मजा।।5.25.1।।

Transliteration

atha tāsāṃ vadantīnāṃ paruṣaṃ dāruṇaṃ bahu |

rākṣasīnām āsaumyānāṃ ruroda janakātmajā ||5.25.1||

Translation

അസൗമ്യരായ രാക്ഷസിമാർ അനവധി കഠിനവും ഭീകരവുമായ വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കെ, ജനകനന്ദിനിയായ സീതാദേവി കരയാൻ തുടങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरणसूचक (Discourse connector/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb): sequence marker; 'then'

• तासाम्: of them
• तासाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; pronoun 'of them'

• वदन्तीनाम्: of the speaking (ones)
• वदन्तीनाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of तासाम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वद् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of (those) speaking'

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: कर्म-विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण (Manner of speech)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; used adverbially with 'speaking'

• दारुणम्: terrible
• दारुणम्: कर्म-विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; coordinate with परुषम्

• बहु: much
• बहु: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial quantity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial sense 'much/a lot'

• राक्षसीनाम्: of the ogresses
• राक्षसीनाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of the ogresses'

• असौम्यानाम्: ugly/inauspicious
• असौम्यानाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; qualifies राक्षसीनाम्

• रुरोद: cried
• रुरोद: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'cried'

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter (Sita)
• जनकात्मजा: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक); आत्मजा = आत्मन् + जा (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'जनकस्य आत्मजा'

Context

On hearing the many harsh words of dire threat by the ugly ogresses, the daughter of Janaka wept.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Janakātmajā)
• Janaka
• rākṣasī (ogresses)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the moral violence of intimidation: adharma manifests as cruel speech and threats against the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

After repeated threats from the ogresses, Sītā’s emotional resilience is strained and she weeps.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance in suffering: even while weeping, Sītā remains within the frame of steadfast righteousness established earlier.