Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 17

सेनानिवेशः रामविलापश्च

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

Devanagari script

कदाऽविक्षोभ्यरक्षांसिसाविधूयोत्पतिष्यति ।विधूयजलदान्नीलान् शशिरेखाशरत्स्विव ।।।।

Transliteration

kadā avikṣobhya rakṣāṃsi sā vidhūyotpatiṣyati |

vidhūya jaladān nīlān śaśirekhā śaratsv iva ||

Translation

Kailan siya sasambulat, inaalis at ipinagpag ang matitigas na rākṣasa—gaya ng gasuklay na buwan sa taglagas na lumilitaw matapos iwaksi ang maiitim na ulap?

Word by Word

• कदा: when
• कदा: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• अविक्षोभ्य: without agitating
• अविक्षोभ्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Manner/prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्षुभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) with negation prefix अ-; 'without disturbing' / 'not having shaken'; उपसर्ग: वि-

• रक्षांसि: rakshasas
• रक्षांसि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विधूय: having shaken off
• विधूय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: वि-; 'having shaken off'

• उत्पतिष्यति: will spring forth/escape
• उत्पतिष्यति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• विधूय: having shaken off
• विधूय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: वि-

• जलदान्: clouds
• जलदान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नीलान्: dark/blue
• नीलान्: कर्म (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying जलदान्)

• शशिरेखा: the crescent moon
• शशिरेखा: उपमेय (Thing compared)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि + रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha): शशि-रेखा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शरत्सु: in autumn (days)
• शरत्सु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इव: like
• इव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

Context

Sita who is by nature slim would surely be slender due to abstaining from eating, unfavorable time and location.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rākṣasas
• Moon (śaśirekhā)
• Clouds (jalada)
• Autumn (śarat)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained hope anchored in righteousness: even amid oppression, truth and purity are envisioned as eventually prevailing.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma longs for Sītā’s release from Rākṣasa captivity, imagining her reappearance through a nature-simile of moon and clouds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Faithful perseverance—Rāma’s unwavering commitment to recover Sītā through righteous means.