Shloka 17

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats

Devanagari script

सर्वथा तेन हीनाया रामेण विदितात्मना।तीक्ष्णं विषमिवास्वाद्य दुर्लभं मम जीवितम्।।5.25.17।।

Transliteration

sarvathā tena hīnāyā rāmeṇa viditātmanā | tīkṣṇaṃ viṣam ivāsvādya durlabhaṃ mama jīvitam || 5.25.17 ||

Translation

സ്വയം അറിയുന്നും സ്ഥിരചിത്തനുമായ രാമനിൽ നിന്ന് സർവ്വവിധം വേർപെട്ട എനിക്ക്, ജീവൻ നിലനിർത്തുക ദുഷ്കരം; മൂർച്ചയുള്ള വിഷം കുടിച്ചതുപോലെ।

Word by Word

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• तेन: by/from him
• तेन: Apadana (अपादान/Separation reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3rd), Singular (एकवचन); refers to Rama

• हीनाया: of (me) separated
• हीनाया: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular (एकवचन); ‘of me who am separated’

• रामेण: from Rama
• रामेण: Apadana (अपादान/Separation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3rd), Singular (एकवचन)

• विदितात्मना: self-knowing
• विदितात्मना: Apadana (अपादान/Separation qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदित-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3rd), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘whose self is known’ qualifying रामेण

• तीक्ष्णम्: sharp/deadly
• तीक्ष्णम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of gerund)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies विषम्

• विषम्: poison
• विषम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of gerund)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

• आस्वाद्य: having tasted
• आस्वाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्वद् (धातु)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (कृत्: ल्यप्/त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थ), ‘having tasted/drunk’

• दुर्लभम्: hard to sustain/rare
• दुर्लभम्: Pradhana-kriya-puraka (विधेय/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective of जीवितम्

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular (एकवचन)

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

'Fie upon this human life. Fie upon this dependence. What a pitiable situation I am placed in. It is not possible for me, a human, to give up life at my free will.'ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে সুন্দরকাণ্ডে পঞ্চবিংশস্সর্গঃ৷Thus ends the twentyfifth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is not merely external duty but inner fidelity: Sītā’s identity is bound to righteous love and truth, making separation feel like spiritual poison.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā expresses that life without Rāma, who is self-disciplined and self-aware, feels unbearable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Constancy (ananyatā) in commitment—her unwavering devotion to a dharmic spouse.