Shloka 6

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

अश्मसारमिदं नूनमथवाप्यजरामरम्।हृदयं मम येनेदं न दुःखेनावशीर्यते।।।।

Transliteration

aśmasāram idaṃ nūnam athavāpy ajarāmaram | hṛdayaṃ mama yenedaṃ na duḥkhenāvaśīryate ||

Translation

നിശ്ചയം എന്റെ ഹൃദയം കല്ലുപോലെ കഠിനമോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അജരാമരമോ ആകണം; ഇത്ര ദുഃഖത്താലും അത് പിളരുന്നില്ല.

Word by Word

• अश्म-सारम्: stone-hard
• अश्म-सारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अश्मनः सारः इव)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नूनम्: surely
• नूनम्: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (surely)

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• अजरा-अमरम्: ageless and deathless
• अजरा-अमरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजरा (प्रातिपदिक) + अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (अजरा च अमरं च)

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कारणार्थे (by which/whereby)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• दुःखेन: by sorrow
• दुःखेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कारण/करण

• अवशीर्यते: is not torn apart
• अवशीर्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + शॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे (is torn asunder)

Context

"It may be, that my heart is made of stone or it has no age or death since it does not riven even with grief.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse frames suffering as a test of inner steadfastness: even in intense sorrow, one’s commitment to dharma can demand endurance and self-control rather than moral collapse.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reflects on her overwhelming grief in captivity and wonders why her heart has not broken under the pain of separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣānti (forbearance) and mental resilience—strength that continues to uphold righteousness amid distress.