Shloka 9

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

Devanagari script

भिद्यतां भक्ष्यतां वापि शरीरं विसृजाम्यहम्।न चाप्यहं चिरं दुःखं सहेयं प्रियवर्जिता।।।।

Transliteration

bhidyatāṃ bhakṣyatāṃ vāpi śarīraṃ visṛjāmy aham | na cāpy ahaṃ ciraṃ duḥkhaṃ saheyaṃ priyavarjitā ||

Translation

എന്റെ ശരീരം കഷണങ്ങളാക്കി മുറിക്കുകയോ തിന്നുകളയുകയോ ചെയ്താലും—ഞാൻ അതിനെ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കും; പ്രിയനില്ലാതെ ഈ ദുഃഖം ഇനി ദീർഘകാലം സഹിക്കാനാവില്ല.

Word by Word

• भिद्यताम्: let (it) be cut/split
• भिद्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-भावः (let it be split)

• भक्ष्यताम्: let (it) be eaten
• भक्ष्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि (let it be eaten)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

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

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विसृजामि: I abandon
• विसृजामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

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

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चिरम्: for long
• चिरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (for long)

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सहेयम्: I could bear
• सहेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (potential/optative), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; न-निषेधेन सह (I could bear)

• प्रिय-वर्जिता: deprived of my beloved
• प्रिय-वर्जिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रियात् वर्जिता/वियुक्ता)

Context

"I will give up my body. Break me into pieces or eat me up. I cannot bear the sorrow of separation from my dear Rama any longer.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma (implied by priyavarjitā)

FAQs

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

The primacy of moral integrity over physical existence: Sītā treats the body as expendable when dharma and truth are threatened by coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, under threat in Lanka, expresses that she would rather die than continue in the agony of separation and dishonor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadfastness—refusing to be psychologically broken by intimidation.