Shloka 17

सीताविलापः

Sītā’s Lament over the Illusory Head and Bow

Devanagari script

अर्चितंसततंयत्तद्गन्धमाल्यैर्मयातव ।इदंतेमप्रतियंवीरधनुःकाञ्चानभूषणम् ।।6.32.17।।

Transliteration

arcitaṃ satataṃ yat tad gandhamālyair mayā tava | idaṃ te mapratiyaṃ vīra dhanuḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇam || 6.32.17 ||

Translation

โอ้วีรบุรุษ—นี่คือคันธนูของท่าน อันประดับทอง ซึ่งเราทั้งสองเคยบูชาด้วยเครื่องหอมและพวงมาลัยอยู่เนืองนิตย์ บัดนี้กลับนอนอยู่ ณ ที่นี้

Word by Word

• अर्चितम्: worshipped, honored
• अर्चितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle

• सततम्: always, continually
• सततम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; correlative pronoun

• गन्धमाल्यैः: with perfumes and garlands
• गन्धमाल्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: द्वन्द्व (गन्धश्च माल्यं च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental 'by me'

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive 'of you/your'

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; dative 'to you'

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive 'my'

• प्रतीयम्: devoutly offered / with devotion
• प्रतीयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति + इ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (णिच्/प्रत्यय-आधारित भाव: प्रतीय/प्रतीत-सम्बद्ध), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; sense: 'with devotion/faith' (contextual)

• वीर: O hero
• वीर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; vocative

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• काञ्चनभूषणम्: gold-ornamented
• काञ्चनभूषणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (काञ्चनस्य भूषणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; used adjectivally

Context

"O Hero! This bow that was decorated with gold was always worshipped with sandal and flowers diligently by you and me with utmost devotion."

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Rama

FAQs

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

It reflects reverence for righteous instruments of protection: the hero’s weapon is treated not as violence but as a dharmic tool honored with restraint and devotion.

What is the narrative situation?

Sita points to Rama’s bow—once ritually honored—as a poignant sign of his present helplessness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Devotional discipline and respect for sacred duty—honoring what serves protection and justice.