Shloka 37

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

सा तदा करुणा वाचो विलपन्ती सुदुःखिता।।3.49.37।।वनस्पतिगतं गृध्रं ददर्शाऽयतलोचना।

Transliteration

sā tadā karuṇā vāco vilapantī suduḥkhitā || 3.49.37 ||

vanaspati-gataṃ gṛdhraṃ dadarśā 'yatalocanā |

Translation

ครั้งนั้น พระนางสีดาผู้มีเนตรยาว งามนัก ถูกความทุกข์ท่วมท้น คร่ำครวญด้วยถ้อยคำอันเวทนา แล้วทอดพระเนตรเห็นนกแร้งตัวหนึ่งเกาะอยู่บนต้นไม้

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kaladhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• करुणाः: piteous
• करुणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; वाचः इति विशेषणम् (piteous)

• वाचः: words
• वाचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), बहुवचन

• विलपन्ती: lamenting
• विलपन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सा इति विशेषणम्

• सुदुःखिता: deeply distressed
• सुदुःखिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (दुःखित) with सु-; सा इति विशेषणम्

• वनस्पतिगतम्: perched on a tree
• वनस्पतिगतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनस्पति + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (गत) ; गृध्रम् इति विशेषणम् (gone to/on a tree)

• गृध्रम्: vulture
• गृध्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आयतलोचना: the long-eyed lady
• आयतलोचना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयत + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आयते लोचने यस्याः)

Context

When the grief-stricken, large-eyed Sita was lamenting piteously, she saw the vulture (Jatayu) seated on a tree.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Jatāyu (implied as the vulture)

FAQs

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

Compassion in suffering and the moral universe of the epic: Sītā’s lament sets the stage for dharmic intervention by a righteous ally (Jatāyu).

What is the narrative situation?

In the midst of abduction and grief, Sītā notices Jatāyu seated on a tree.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s endurance and emotional honesty; the scene also anticipates Jatāyu’s dharmic courage.