Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 46

त्रिजटास्वप्नवर्णनम्

Trijata’s Dream-Omens and the Rakshasis’ Reversal

Devanagari script

छायावैगुण्यमात्रं तु शङ्के दुःखमुपस्थितम्।।5.27.46।।

अदुःखार्हामिमां देवीं वैहायसमुपस्थिताम्।

Transliteration

chāyāvaiguṇyamātraṃ tu śaṅke duḥkham upasthitam | aduḥkhārhām imāṃ devīṃ vaihāyasam upasthitām ||5.27.46||

Translation

നിഴലിൽ അല്പം മങ്ങലേ കാണപ്പെടുന്നുള്ളു—അതുകൊണ്ട് ദുഃഖം വന്നെത്തിയെന്ന് ഞാൻ സംശയിക്കുന്നു; ദുഃഖം അനുഭവിക്കേണ്ടതല്ലാത്ത ഈ ദേവിയുടെ കാന്തി വ്യഥയാൽ മങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• छायावैगुण्यमात्रम्: only a slight change in complexion
• छायावैगुण्यमात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया-वैगुण्य-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छायायाः वैगुण्यं तदेव मात्रम् (only a defect/change of complexion)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• शङ्के: I suspect/think
• शङ्के: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शङ्क् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद; उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन

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

• उपस्थितम्: has befallen
• उपस्थितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप+स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: उप+स्था-धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate 'has come'

• अदुःखार्हाम्: not deserving suffering
• अदुःखार्हाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-दुःख-अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; न दुःखम् अर्हति या (not deserving sorrow) qualifies देवीम्/इमाम्

• इमाम्: this (lady)
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवीम्: queen/divine lady
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैहायसम्: through the air/aerially
• वैहायसम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैहायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'aerial/sky-born'; used adverbially with उपस्थिताम् (coming through the air)

• उपस्थिताम्: arrived/befallen
• उपस्थिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप+स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: उप+स्था-धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies देवीम्

Context

A great suffering has befallen a lady who does not deserve to suffer. Therefore, a change in her complexion has occured.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (implied: devī)

FAQs

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

Dharma-sensitive compassion: the speaker recognizes the moral wrong of making the innocent suffer and reads the bodily change as a consequence of inflicted adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Observing Sītā’s diminished radiance, a rākṣasī interprets it as grief imposed on someone inherently undeserving of pain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s innocence and worthiness of protection, prompting empathy even among her captors.