Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 16

सेनानिवेशः रामविलापश्च

Encampment on the Northern Shore; Rama’s Lament and Sandhyā

Devanagari script

कथंजनकरजस्यदुहिताममचप्रिया ।राक्षसीमध्यगाशेतेस्नुषादशरथस्यच ।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ janakarājasya duhitā mama ca priyā | rākṣasīmadhyagā śete snuṣā daśarathasya ca ||6.5.16||

Translation

Paano nangyari na ang aking minamahal—anak ni Haring Janaka at manugang ni Daśaratha—ay nahihiga sa gitna ng mga rākṣasī?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: how)

• जनकराजस्य: of King Janaka
• जनकराजस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha): जनक-राजन्; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• दुहिताम्: daughter
• दुहिताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; appositional to प्रिया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• प्रिया: beloved (wife)
• प्रिया: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• राक्षसीमध्यगा: gone into the midst of demonesses
• राक्षसीमध्यगा: कर्ता (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षसी + मध्य + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha): राक्षसी-मध्य-गत; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying प्रिया)

• शेते: lies/sleeps
• शेते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Atmanepada)

• स्नुषा: daughter-in-law
• स्नुषा: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to प्रिया

• दशरथस्य: of Dasharatha
• दशरथस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

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

Context

My beloved is king Janaka's daughter and daughter-in-law of Dasaratha. Yet she is sleeping amid Rakshasas. How is it?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Janaka
• Daśaratha
• Rākṣasīs

FAQs

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

Dharma as safeguarding honor and justice: a virtuous woman of noble lineage being forced among rākṣasīs highlights adharma, demanding rectification through righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma contemplates the indignity and danger of Sītā’s captivity, contrasting her royal lineage and rightful status with her present surroundings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral outrage aligned with justice: Rāma’s shock is not mere pride but a recognition of violation of dharma and the urgency to restore rightful order.