Shloka 8

सीताविलापः

Sītā’s Lament over the Illusory Head and Bow

Devanagari script

हाहताऽस्मिमहाबाहो वीरव्रतमनुव्रत ।इमांतेपश्चिमावस्थांगताऽस्मिविधवाकृता ।।6.32.8।।

Transliteration

hā hatāsmi mahābāho vīravratam anuvrata |

imāṃ te paścimāvasthāṃ gatāsmi vidhavākṛtā ||6.32.8||

Translation

അയ്യോ! ഹേ മഹാബാഹോ, വീരവ്രതാനുവർത്തിയേ! നീ വീരധർമ്മം പാലിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് ഹതനായിരിക്കുന്നു; നിന്റെ ഈ അന്തിമാവസ്ഥ ഞാൻ കണ്ടു—വിധവയായി മാറി.

Word by Word

• hā: alas!
• hā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hā (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation/particle (विस्मय/शोकबोधक अव्यय)

• hatā: struck down / ruined
• hatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate with 'asmi'

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (लट्, present), Uttama puruṣa (1st person/उत्तम), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• mahābāho: O mighty-armed one
• mahābāho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana; 'O great-armed one'

• vīravratam: O one of heroic vow
• vīravratam: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Sambodhana/Dvitīyā form identical; here Vocative sense addressing; Ekavacana

• anuvrata: O faithful follower (of vows)
• anuvrata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anu-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Sambodhana (vocative), Ekavacana; 'follower of vows'

• imām: this
• imām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies 'avasthām'

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th case/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive 'of you/your'

• paścimām: last/final
• paścimām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies 'avasthām'

• avasthām: state/condition
• avasthām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object with 'gatā asmi' (reached state)

• gatā: having come/reached
• gatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त/PPP in active sense), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate with 'asmi'

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ, Uttama puruṣa, Ekavacana

• vidhavā-kṛtā: made a widow
• vidhavā-kṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vidhavā + kṛ (धातु); vidhavā-kṛta (प्रातिपदिक from PPP)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'made into a widow' (predicate)

Context

"O mighty-armed one! Alas you are killed while following heroic vow. I live to see you in the last state of your life, widowed. I am done."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse reflects the dharmic seriousness of vows (vrata) and the spouse’s shared destiny: Sītā recognizes Rāma’s adherence to heroic duty and the profound social-spiritual cost of widowhood.

What is the narrative situation?

Believing Rāma to be killed in battle, Sītā cries out in despair and speaks directly to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s vow-bound heroism and Sītā’s unwavering attachment to him as her life’s moral center.