Shloka 21

सीताहरण

विलापः / The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā

Devanagari script

बभूव जलदं नीलं भित्त्वा चन्द्र इवोदितः।सुललाटं सुकेशान्तं पद्मगर्भाभमव्रणम्।।3.52.19।।शुक्लैस्सुविमलैर्दन्तै प्रभावद्भिरलङ्कृतम्।तस्यास्तद्विमलं वक्त्रमाकाशे रावणाङ्कगम्।।3.52.20।।रुदितं व्यपमृष्टास्रं चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनम्।सुनासं चारुताम्रोष्ठमाकाशे हाटकप्रभम्।।3.52.21।।

Transliteration

ruditaṃ vyapamṛṣṭāsraṃ candravat priyadarśanam |

sunāsaṃ cārutāmroṣṭham ākāśe hāṭakaprabham ||

Translation

นางร่ำไห้แต่เช็ดน้ำตา พระพักตร์นั้นดุจจันทร์และน่าชมยิ่ง มีจมูกได้รูปและริมฝีปากแดงเรื่ออันงาม ส่องประกายดุจทองอยู่ในท้องฟ้า

Word by Word

• रुदितम्: weeping
• रुदितम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √रुद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), द्वितीया एकवचन नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘wept/crying’ (qualifies वक्त्रम्)

• व्यपमृष्ट-अस्रम्: with tears wiped away
• व्यपमृष्ट-अस्रम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-अप-√मृज् (धातु) + अस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (PPP) + तत्पुरुषः; द्वितीया एकवचन नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘tears wiped off’ (asra = tears)

• चन्द्रवत्: moon-like
• चन्द्रवत्: उपमा (Simile adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चन्द्रवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial form in -वत्): ‘like the moon’

• प्रियदर्शनम्: lovely to behold
• प्रियदर्शनम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय-दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: ‘pleasant to see’, विशेषण

• सुनासम्: beautiful-nosed
• सुनासम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-नास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘beautiful-nosed’, विशेषण

• चारु-ताम्र-ओष्ठम्: with lovely red lips
• चारु-ताम्र-ओष्ठम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; कर्मधारयः: ‘lovely + copper-red + lips’ = ‘with lovely red lips’, विशेषण

• आकाशे: in the sky
• आकाशे: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• हाटक-प्रभम्: golden-lustrous
• हाटक-प्रभम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हाटक (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘having lustre of gold’, विशेषण

Context

Sita's face looked beautiful with her smooth forehead, shining hair and spotless complexion like the inside of a lotus, with clean, white, shining teeth, a nice nose and lovely red lips. She was continuously weeping and wiping her tears. Her face which was pleasing like the Moon on the lap of Ravana appeared as though the Moon was rising through dark clouds.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected as compassion and moral sensitivity: the epic invites the listener to recognize the injustice of harming the innocent and to respond with empathy toward suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

As Sītā is carried away through the sky, her grief is described vividly—she cries, wipes her tears, and remains radiant despite distress.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s tenderness and endurance—maintaining grace under extreme violation and fear.