Shloka 25

सीताविलापः

Sītā’s Lament over the Illusory Head and Bow

Devanagari script

प्रव्रज्यामुपपन्नानांत्रयाणामेकमागतम् ।परिप्रक्ष्यतिकौसल्यालक्ष्मणंशोकलालसा ।।6.32.25।।

Transliteration

pravrajyām upapannānāṃ trayāṇām ekam āgatam |

pariprakṣyati kauśalyā lakṣmaṇaṃ śoka-lālasā ||6.32.25||

Translation

വനവാസത്തിന് പോയ മൂന്നുപേരിൽ ഒരാൾ മാത്രം മടങ്ങിവന്നത് കണ്ടാൽ, ശോകത്തിൽ കാതരയായ കൗസല്യ ലക്ഷ്മണനോട് ചോദ്യം ചെയ്യും.

Word by Word

• प्रव्रज्याम्: exile, going forth
• प्रव्रज्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रव्रज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'exile/renunciation' (object in genitive construction with उपपन्नानाम्)

• उपपन्नानाम्: of those who had gone into (exile)
• उपपन्नानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + पद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of those who have undertaken/entered'

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• त्रयाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive 'of the three'

• एकम्: one, only
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies लक्ष्मणम्

• आगतम्: returned, come
• आगतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies लक्ष्मणम्

• परिप्रक्ष्यति: will look at, will behold
• परिप्रक्ष्यति: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कौसल्या: Kausalyā
• कौसल्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शोकलालसा: eager in grief / consumed by grief
• शोकलालसा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + लालसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (शोके लालसा यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies कौसल्या

Context

"Seeing only Lakshmana returning, of the three exiled, Kausalya will be immersed in grief (will ask)."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Kauśalyā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (implied as one of the three exiled)

FAQs

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

Dharma of familial accountability: actions in the public sphere (war, exile) reverberate through family obligations; Sītā recognizes the mother’s rightful claim to truth and explanation.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā imagines the aftermath in Ayodhyā: if only Lakṣmaṇa returns, Kauśalyā will urgently question him about Rāma and Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s empathy and foresight—she considers not only her own grief but also Kauśalyā’s impending suffering.