Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 5

सीताविलापः

Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats

Devanagari script

वेपते स्माधिकं सीता विशन्ती वाङ्गमात्मनः।वने यूथपरिभ्रष्टा मृगी कोकैरिवार्दिता।।5.25.5।।

Transliteration

vepate smādhikaṃ sītā viśantī aṅgam ātmanaḥ | vane yūtha-paribhraṣṭā mṛgī kokair ivārditā || 5.25.5 ||

Translation

Sītā menggigil hebat, merapatkan anggota tubuhnya ke dalam; bagaikan rusa betina di rimba yang terpisah dari kawanan, diganggu dan diburu serigala.

Word by Word

• वेपते: trembled/trembles
• वेपते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'trembles'

• स्म: (past marker)
• स्म: कालसूचक-निपात (Tense particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): past/continuative marker with present; 'indeed/then'

• अधिकम्: excessively
• अधिकम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial 'excessively'

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विशन्ती: drawing in/entering
• विशन्ती: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'entering/going into' (here: drawing in)

• वाङ्गम्: her limbs/body
• वाङ्गम्: कर्म (Object of viśantī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'limb/body'

• आत्मनः: of herself
• आत्मनः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; reflexive genitive 'of herself'

• वने: in the forest
• वने: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative 'in the forest'

• यूथपरिभ्रष्टा: strayed from the herd
• यूथपरिभ्रष्टा: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यूथ + परि + भ्रष्ट (भ्रंश्/भ्रष्ट-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'यूथात् परिभ्रष्टा' (strayed from the herd)

• मृगी: a doe
• मृगी: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; simile base

• कोकैः: by wolves
• कोकैः: करण/कर्तृ (Agent causing torment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'by wolves/jackals'

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative particle): 'like/as'

• अर्दिता: tormented
• अर्दिता: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'tormented'

Context

'I do not know what great sin I have committed in my past life for which I experience this terrific, cruel affliction?

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes compassion and the duty to protect the vulnerable; the simile condemns predatory power and underscores the moral urgency of rescue.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, isolated among enemies, physically manifests fear and distress while being guarded in Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance—despite terror, she continues to survive without yielding her principles.