Shloka 17

सीताहरण

विलापः / The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā

Devanagari script

तस्याः कौशेयमुद्धूतमाकाशे कनकप्रभम्।बभौ चादित्यरागेण ताम्रमभ्रमिवातपे।।।।

Transliteration

tasyāḥ kauśeyam uddhūtam ākāśe kanakaprabham |

babhau cādityarāgeṇa tāmram abhram ivātape ||

Translation

ผ้าไหมของนางที่ปลิวสูงในเวหา เรืองรองดุจทองคำ ครั้นต้องแดงแห่งสุริยัน ก็ปรากฏดุจเมฆสีทองแดงในแสงแดด

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• परमकल्याण्याः: of the most auspicious (lady)
• परमकल्याण्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्याणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्; 'तस्याः' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ताम्राणि: copper-red
• ताम्राणि: कर्ता (Karta; subject of passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; 'पद्मपत्राणि' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सुरभीणि: fragrant
• सुरभीणि: कर्ता (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; 'पद्मपत्राणि' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• पद्मपत्राणि: lotus petals/leaves
• पद्मपत्राणि: कर्ता (Karta; subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (padmasya patrāṇi)

• वैदेह्याः: of Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेह्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive; source/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• अभ्यकीर्यन्त: were showered/scattered upon
• अभ्यकीर्यन्त: क्रिया (Passive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + किॄ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive sense: were scattered upon)

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: कर्म (Karma; patient/target in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

Context

As the golden-coloured garment worn by Sita blew in the wind, it looked like a copper-coloured cloud illumined by the evening Sun in the sky.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (implied)
• Ākāśa (sky)
• Āditya (sun)

FAQs

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

Though not overtly moralizing, the verse supports a dharmic reading: Sītā’s purity is aesthetically foregrounded, implying that dharma possesses an enduring radiance even during injustice.

What is the narrative situation?

During the aerial abduction, Sītā’s garment billows and is compared to a sun-reddened cloud.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s auspicious presence—suggested through luminous imagery rather than direct praise.