Shloka 22

अशोकवनिकायां सीतादर्शनम्

Sita Seen in the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

व्रीडितां दुःखसन्तप्तां परिम्लानां तपस्विनीम्।ग्रहेणाङ्गारकेणेव पीडितामिव रोहिणीम्।।।।

Transliteration

vrīḍitāṃ duḥkhasantaptāṃ parimlānāṃ tapasvinīm |

graheṇāṅgārakeṇeva pīḍitām iva rohiṇīm ||

Translation

அவள் வெட்கத்தால் தாழ்ந்து, துயரத் தீயால் சுட்டு, வாடியவளாய்—தபஸ்வினி போல—தோன்றினாள்; அங்காரகன் (செவ்வாய்) கிரகத்தால் பீடிக்கப்பட்ட ரோஹிணி போல.

Word by Word

• vrīḍitām: bashful/ashamed
• vrīḍitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrīḍita (कृदन्त; √vrīḍ)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; kta participle

• duḥkha-santaptām: tormented by grief
• duḥkha-santaptām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + santapta (कृदन्त; √tap + sam)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: "tormented by sorrow"

• parimlānām: withered/faded
• parimlānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parimlāna (कृदन्त; √mlā + pari)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; kta participle

• tapasvinīm: ascetic woman/helpless lady
• tapasvinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

• graheṇa: by a planet
• graheṇa: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana

• aṅgārakeṇa: by Mars (Aṅgāraka)
• aṅgārakeṇa: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, ekavacana

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle) for emphasis/comparison

• pīḍitām: afflicted
• pīḍitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīḍita (कृदन्त; √pīḍ)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana; kta participle

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; upamā-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya

• rohiṇīm: Rohiṇī (star)
• rohiṇīm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, ekavacana

Context

She was bashful, tormented with agony, dejected with a withered look. She appeared like the star Rohini oppressed by planet Mars.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rohiṇī
• Aṅgāraka (Mars)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharma as disciplined endurance: Sītā’s suffering is portrayed not as collapse but as tapas-like steadfastness grounded in truth and fidelity.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān continues to assess Sītā’s state in captivity, using a cosmic simile to convey how overpowering her affliction appears.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Modesty (vrīḍā) and austerity (tapas): her demeanor remains dignified even under oppression.