Shloka 18
सीताहरण
विलापः / The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā
तस्यास्तत्सुनसं वक्त्रमाकाशे रावणाङ्कगम्।न रराज विना रामं विनालमिव पङ्कजम्।।।।
tasyās tat sunasaṃ vaktram ākāśe rāvaṇāṅkagam |
na rarāja vinā rāmaṃ vinālam iva paṅkajam ||
तिचे सुघड नाक असलेले सुंदर मुख, आकाशात रावणाच्या मांडीवर असतानाही, रामावाचून तितकेसे शोभले नाही—जसे देठाविना कमळ शोभत नाही.
Sita's face with her beautiful nose on Ravana's lap and not on Rama's, shone no more like a lotus without its stalk.
FAQs
The verse underscores maryādā and fidelity: Sītā’s rightful relationship with Rāma is portrayed as organic and life-giving, like a lotus and its stalk—separation is a moral and emotional rupture.
Sītā is in the sky on Rāvaṇa’s lap; the poet notes that her radiance is diminished because she is separated from Rāma.
Sītā’s unwavering devotion to Rāma (pativratā-bhāva), expressed through the imagery of lost radiance in separation.