Shloka 6

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament and Resolve under Threat

Devanagari script

नूनं ममाङ्गान्यचिरादनार्यः शस्त्रैश्शितैश्छेत्स्यति राक्षसेन्द्रः।तस्मिननागच्छति लोकनाथे गर्भस्थजन्तोरिव शल्यकृन्तः।।5.28.6।।

Transliteration

nūnaṃ mamāṅgāny acirād anāryaḥ śastraiḥ śitaiś chetsyati rākṣasendraḥ | tasmin anāgacchati lokanāthe garbhasthajantor iva śalyakṛntaḥ ||5.28.6||

Translation

തീർച്ചയായും അധികം വൈകാതെ ആ അനാര്യനായ രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രൻ മൂർച്ചയുള്ള ആയുധങ്ങളാൽ എന്റെ അവയവങ്ങൾ മുറിച്ചുകളയും—ലോകനാഥൻ സമയത്ത് ഇവിടെ എത്താതിരുന്നാൽ—ഗർഭസ്ഥ ശിശുവിനെ ശസ്ത്രക്രിയകൻ കത്തിയാൽ മുറിച്ചെടുക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

नूनम्surely, certainly

ममmy

अङ्गानिlimbs, body-parts

अचिरात्soon, before long

अनार्यःvile, ignoble

शस्त्रैःwith weapons

शितैःsharp

छेत्स्यतिwill cut, will sever

राक्षसेन्द्रःthe lord of demons (Rāvaṇa)

तस्मिन्when he/that one (is) ...; in his (case)

अनागच्छतिdoes not come, has not yet come

लोकनाथेin/when the lord of the world (Rāma) (has not come)

गर्भस्थजन्तोःof the foetus (womb-dwelling being)

इवlike, as

शल्यकृन्तःone who cuts out a splinter; a surgeon/barber

Context

"If the lord of the world does not come here before that (time fixed by Ravana) the vile lord of demons will cut me into pieces with weapons just as a barber would cut to pieces the foetus with a sharp knife (in order to save a pregnant woman).

Characters & Entities

Sītā

Rāvaṇa

Rāma (lokanātha)

rākṣasa

FAQs

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

Endurance in righteousness despite fear: even while anticipating violence, Sītā’s concern is not to compromise dharma; she looks to lawful protection (Rāma) rather than surrender.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā fears Rāvaṇa will mutilate/kill her if Rāma does not reach Laṅkā before the deadline.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under suffering and steadfast reliance on truth and rightful rescue.