Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 9

सीताव्यथा

वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement

Devanagari script

वेष्टमानां तथाऽविष्टां पन्नगेन्द्रवधूमिव।धूप्यमानां ग्रहेणेव रोहिणीं धूमकेतुना।।।।

Transliteration

veṣṭamānāṃ tathā''viṣṭāṃ pannagendravadhūm iva |

dhūpyamānāṃ graheṇeva rohiṇīṃ dhūmaketunā ||

Translation

นางนั่งอยู่อย่างนั้น ถูกโศกพันรัดแน่น ราวกับมเหสีแห่งพญานาคที่ขดกายอยู่กับตนเอง; ดุจโรหิณีที่ประหนึ่งถูกเคราะห์ร้าย—ธูมเกตุ ดาวหาง—บดบังจนคล้ายมีควันคลุ้ง

Word by Word

• veṣṭamānām: being coiled/encircled
• veṣṭamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veṣṭ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; present participle (Ātmanepada sense), feminine, accusative singular

• tathā: thus, in that way
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• āviṣṭām: seized/overpowered
• āviṣṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-viś (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle, feminine, accusative singular

• pannagendra-vadhūm: the serpent-king's bride
• pannagendra-vadhūm: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pannaga + indra + vadhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पन्नगानाम् इन्द्रः = पन्नगेन्द्रः; पन्नगेन्द्रस्य वधूः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; feminine, accusative singular

• iva: like, as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय; comparative particle

• dhūpyamānām: being smoked/afflicted as by fumes
• dhūpyamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhūp (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; present passive participle, feminine, accusative singular

• graheṇa: by a planet/seizer
• graheṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; masculine, instrumental singular

• iva: like, as
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय; comparative particle

• rohiṇīm: Rohiṇī (lunar mansion/star)
• rohiṇīm: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; feminine, accusative singular

• dhūmaketunā: by the comet
• dhūmaketunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūmaketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (धूमः केतुः यस्य/धूम-केतुः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; masculine, instrumental singular

Context

Sitting in that manner she resembled a coiled serpent queen, the star Rohini overshadowed by a smoking comet (that is Ravana).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rohiṇī
• dhūmaketu (comet)
• graha (planet/inauspicious seizer)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma (coercion and unlawful possession) darkens and diminishes what is pure; Sītā’s steadfastness implies dharma as inner integrity even when externally oppressed.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān, hidden in Laṅkā, looks upon Sītā in Aśoka-vana and sees her overwhelmed by grief and confinement, expressed through ominous celestial similes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s satya and śīla (truthfulness and moral purity): though ‘overshadowed,’ she remains the same luminous person, not consenting inwardly to wrongdoing.