Shloka 11

सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः

Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha

Devanagari script

प्रेषितस्तेमहावीरोहनुमानवलोककः ।लङ्कास्थाहंत्वयाराजन्किंतदा न विसर्जिता ।।।।

Transliteration

preṣitas te mahāvīro hanūmān avalokakaḥ |

laṅkā-sthā 'haṁ tvayā rājan kiṁ tadā na visarjitā ||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชา! เมื่อพระองค์ทรงส่งมหาวีรหนุมานไปเป็นผู้สอดส่องค้นหาข้าพเจ้า ขณะที่ข้าพเจ้าอยู่ ณ ลงกา—หากพระองค์ทรงยึดความสงสัยเป็นหลัก เหตุใดจึงมิทรงสละข้าพเจ้าเสียตั้งแต่ครั้งนั้น

Word by Word

• preṣitaḥ: was sent
• preṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√iṣ (इष्) (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि (sent)

• te: by you
• te: Kartr-sambandha (कर्तृ-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Gen sg); कर्तृ-सम्बन्ध (by you/your)

• mahāvīraḥ: the great hero
• mahāvīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great hero)

• hanumān: Hanuman
• hanumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• avalokakaḥ: as a scout/observer
• avalokakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ava-√lok (लोक्) (धातु) + अक (ण्वुल्/क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun: one who looks/searches)

• laṅkā-sthā: being in Laṅkā
• laṅkā-sthā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (situated in Laṅkā)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg)

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Voc sg)

• kim: why
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; प्रश्न (why)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• visarjitā: was released/left
• visarjitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (सृज्) (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि (released/abandoned)

Context

"King! When the great hero Hanuman was sent by you to find me in Lanka, why did you not leave me then."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Hanūmān
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Dharma as consistency and fairness: Sītā questions the morality of accepting her rescue and war-effort if her character was to be doubted; ethical judgment should not be opportunistic.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā points to the earlier moment when Hanūmān located her in Laṅkā, implying Rāma had ample time to decide his course if suspicion existed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity and rational challenge: Sītā uses reasoned argument to expose inconsistency, while maintaining commitment to truth.