Shloka 30

सीताहरण

विलापः / The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā

Devanagari script

तरुप्रवालरक्ता सा नीलाङ्गं राक्षसेश्वरम्।प्राशोभयत वैदेही गजं कक्ष्येव काञ्चनी।।।।

Transliteration

taru-pravāla-raktā sā nīlāṅgaṃ rākṣaseśvaram |

prāśobhayata vaidehī gajaṃ kakṣyeva kāñcanī ||

Translation

ไวเทหีผู้แดงเรื่อดุจยอดอ่อนแห่งพฤกษา ทำให้จอมราชาแห่งรากษสผู้กายสีคล้ำดูประดับงดงาม ราวกับโซ่ทองสำหรับล่ามช้างที่คล้องอยู่บนกายช้าง

Word by Word

• तरुप्रवालरक्ता: reddish like tender shoots
• तरुप्रवालरक्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरु + प्रवाल + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (upamā/viśeṣaṇa sense: taru-pravāla-sadṛśa-raktā), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to सा/वैदेही

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

• नीलाङ्गम्: dark-bodied
• नीलाङ्गम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (nīlam aṅgam yasya), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to राक्षसेश्वरम्

• राक्षसेश्वरम्: lord of the rākṣasas (Rāvaṇa)
• राक्षसेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānām īśvaraḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राशोभयत: made (him) shine/adorned
• प्राशोभयत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative)

• वैदेही: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• वैदेही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to सा

• गजम्: an elephant
• गजम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कक्ष्या: a girth/band
• कक्ष्या: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्ष्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• काञ्चनी: a golden (band)
• काञ्चनी: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

With her golden girdle, Sita whose complexion resembled tender leaves looked like a golden chain to bind an elephant with. (Here Ravana is the elephant).

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Rāvaṇa (rākṣaseśvara)
• gaja (elephant) (simile)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts outer splendor with inner unrighteousness: adornment can mask adharma, but does not sanctify it—an ethical warning against confusing beauty or power with virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

While Rāvaṇa carries Sītā, the poet describes the visual contrast between Sītā’s radiance and Rāvaṇa’s dark form through a striking simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s innate dignity and radiance (tejas) remain intact even in violation, underscoring moral purity amid coercion.