Shloka 20

सीताविलापः रावणनिन्दा च

Sita’s Lament and Condemnation of Ravana

Devanagari script

तप्तकाञ्चनपुष्पां च वैडूर्यप्रवरच्छदाम्।।3.53.20।।द्रक्ष्यसे शाल्मलीं तीक्ष्णामायसैः कण्टकैश्चिताम्।

Transliteration

tapta-kāñcana-puṣpāṃ ca vaiḍūrya-pravara-cchadām ||3.53.20||

drakṣyase śālmalīṃ tīkṣṇām āyasaiḥ kaṇṭakaiś citām |

Translation

เจ้าจะได้เห็นต้นศาลมลีอันแหลมคม มีดอกสีทองดุจไฟลุก และเรือนยอดดั่งแก้วไวฑูรยะอันประเสริฐ แต่กลับเต็มไปด้วยหนามเหล็ก

Word by Word

• तप्तकाञ्चनपुष्पाम्: having heated-gold flowers
• तप्तकाञ्चनपुष्पाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त + काञ्चन + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (बहुपद: "तप्त-काञ्चन" as qualifier of पुष्प; overall adjective of शाल्मलीम्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• वैडूर्यप्रवरच्छदाम्: with excellent vaidurya-like covering
• वैडूर्यप्रवरच्छदाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैडूर्य + प्रवर + छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (बहुपद: "वैडूर्य-प्रवर" qualifying छदा/छद; "having excellent vaidurya-like covering/bark"), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्रक्ष्यसे: you will see
• द्रक्ष्यसे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• शाल्मलीम्: the śālmali tree
• शाल्मलीम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्मली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; name of silk-cotton tree

• तीक्ष्णाम्: sharp
• तीक्ष्णाम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies शाल्मलीम्

• आयसैः: of iron
• आयसैः: करण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental qualifier of कण्टकैः

• कण्टकैः: with thorns
• कण्टकैः: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• चिताम्: covered/piled
• चिताम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चि (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with शाल्मलीम्; "piled/covered"

Context

You will see a log of salmali tree with bright golden flowers and excellent vaidurya stone with pointed iron thorns.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• śālmalī
• vaidūrya

FAQs

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

Adharma often appears attractive but is inwardly painful: the ‘golden’ yet thorny tree symbolizes deceptive allure leading to suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā continues describing ominous visions associated with death and punishment, warning Rāvaṇa of the bitter end of his act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral instruction through imagery: Sītā uses vivid symbols to teach consequences and to deter wrongdoing.