Shloka 12

सरमायाḥ सीतासान्त्वनम् तथा रावणनिश्चयश्रवणम्

Saarana Consoles Sita and Reports Ravana’s Resolve

Devanagari script

सात्वेवंब्रुवतींसीतांसरमावल्गुभाषिणी ।उवाचवदनंतस्यास्स्पृशन्तीबाष्पविक्लबम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sā tv evaṃ bruvatīṃ sītāṃ saramā valgubhāṣiṇī | uvāca vadanaṃ tasyās spṛśantī bāṣpaviklabam ||

Translation

സീത ഇങ്ങനെ പറയുമ്പോൾ, മധുരഭാഷിണിയായ സരമാ കണ്ണുനീരാൽ വിറച്ച് മങ്ങിയ അവളുടെ മുഖം സാവധാനം സ്പർശിച്ച് മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (but/indeed)

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (thus)

• bruvatīm: speaking
• bruvatīm: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं सीताम्

• sītām: Sītā
• sītām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• saramā: Saramā
• saramā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saramā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to sā

• valgu-bhāṣiṇī: sweet-speaking
• valgu-bhāṣiṇī: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: valgu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣiṇī (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('sweet-speaking'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं सरमायाः

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vadanam: face
• vadanam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• spṛśantī: touching
• spṛśantī: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/attendant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √spṛś (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सहक्रिया (concomitant action of subject)

• bāṣpa-viklabam: blurred with tears
• bāṣpa-viklabam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + viklaba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('made unsteady by tears'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं वदनम्

Context

Saarana who speaks sweetly, kept wiping Sita's face covered with tears gently and replied in this manner.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Saramā

FAQs

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

Dharma in conduct (ācāra) is shown through gentle speech and compassionate touch—supporting the suffering with dignity and care.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, tearful and shaken, speaks to Saramā; the narration describes Saramā’s tender response before she answers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saramā’s tenderness and moral courage—she comforts Sītā despite belonging to the enemy’s household.