Shloka 32

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

सान्थकारा हतद्योता हतराक्षसपुङ्गवा।भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का निर्दग्धा रामसायकैः।।।।

Transliteration

sāndhakārā hatadyotā hatarākṣasapuṅgavā |

bhaviṣyati purī laṅkā nirdagdhā rāmasāyakaiḥ ||

Translation

രാമസായകങ്ങളാൽ ദഹിപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ട ലങ്കാപുരി അന്ധകാരത്തിൽ മൂടപ്പെടും; അതിന്റെ ദീപ്തി നശിക്കും; രാക്ഷസശ്രേഷ്ഠർ സംഹരിക്കപ്പെടും.

Word by Word

• सान्धकारा: darkened/filled with darkness
• सान्धकारा: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective with subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāndhakāra (प्रातिपदिक; स + अन्धकार)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सः अन्धकारः यस्याम्/या = darkness-filled); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying लङ्का/पुरी)

• हतद्योता: with splendour extinguished
• हतद्योता: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata-dyotā (प्रातिपदिक; हत + द्योता)
• Form: कृदन्त-पूर्वपद (हन् धातोः क्त-प्रत्यय: हत) + द्योता; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (lost its light/splendour)

• हतराक्षसपुङ्गवा: with the demon-chiefs slain
• हतराक्षसपुङ्गवा: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata-rākṣasa-puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक; हत + राक्षस + पुङ्गव)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; हत (क्त, from हन्) + राक्षसपुङ्गव (best of demons); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (whose demon-chiefs are slain)

• भविष्यति: will become/will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समनाधिकरण (apposition with लङ्का)

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता (subject of भविष्यति)

• निर्दग्धा: completely burnt
• निर्दग्धा: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-dagdha (प्रातिपदिक; दह् धातोः क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying लङ्का)

• रामसायकैः: by Rama's arrows
• रामसायकैः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma-sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक; राम + सायक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रामस्य सायकाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करणम् (means)

Context

"Totally burnt by Rama's arrows, this Lanka will be filled with darkness, and its splendour lost and pre-eminent demons destroyed.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rāma
• sāyaka (arrows)
• rākṣasa leaders

FAQs

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

Dharma ultimately dismantles entrenched adharma: when righteous force is applied for restoration, it removes corrupt power structures and their false “splendor.”

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā envisions the decisive destruction awaiting Laṅkā at Rāma’s hands—fire, darkness, and the fall of rākṣasa champions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aparājeya-viśvāsa (unconquerable confidence) rooted in dharma: Sītā’s certainty that righteousness will prevail.