Shloka 16
सीताविलापः
Sita’s Lament and Resolve under Threat
सा जीवितं क्षिप्रमहं त्यजेयं विषेण शस्त्रेण शितेन वापि।विषस्य दाता न हि मेऽस्ति कश्चि च्छस्त्रस्य वा वेश्मनि राक्षसस्य।।5.28.16।।
sā jīvitaṃ kṣipram ahaṃ tyajeyaṃ viṣeṇa śastreṇa śitena vāpi |
viṣasya dātā na hi me’sti kaścid chastrasya vā veśmani rākṣasasya ||5.28.16||
ഞാൻ വിഷം കൊണ്ടോ, ആയുധം കൊണ്ടോ, അത്യന്തം മൂർച്ചയുള്ള വാളുകൊണ്ടോ പോലും ഉടൻ ജീവൻ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുമായിരുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ഈ രാക്ഷസന്റെ ഗൃഹത്തിൽ എനിക്ക് വിഷമോ ആയുധമോ നൽകാൻ ആരുമില്ല.
"I will end my life at once by taking poison or else by a sharp weapon. Alas! There is none to give get me poison or a weapon at this demon's residence".
FAQs
Sita’s impulse to end her life arises from unbearable coercion, yet the verse also shows her moral clarity: she does not seek compromise with adharma, and her steadfast truthfulness and fidelity remain central even in despair.
She is under strict captivity in the enemy’s residence, without allies or access to means of self-harm; the line underscores her helplessness and the controlled, hostile environment around her.