Shloka 35

सीताहरण

विलापः / The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā

Devanagari script

नलिन्यो ध्वस्तकमलास्त्रस्तमीनजलेचराः।सखीमिव गतोच्छ्वासामन्वशोचन्त मैथिलीम्।।।।

Transliteration

nalinyo dhvasta-kamalās trasta-mīna-jalecarāḥ |

sakhīm iva gatochvāsām anvaśocanta maithilīm ||

Translation

کنول کے تالاب—جن کے کنول برباد ہو گئے اور جن کے مچھلیاں و آبی جاندار سہم گئے—میتھلی کو یوں ماتم کرتے دکھائی دیتے تھے جیسے کوئی سہیلی کو، جو ہانپتی سانسوں میں رہ گئی ہو، روئے۔

Word by Word

• नलिन्यः: lotus-ponds
• नलिन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नलिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ध्वस्तकमलाः: whose lotuses were withered
• ध्वस्तकमलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वस्त + कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (dhvastāni kamalāni yāsām), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to नलिन्यः

• त्रस्तमीनजलेचराः: with frightened fish and water-creatures
• त्रस्तमीनजलेचराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस्त + मीन + जलेचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (trastāḥ mīnāḥ jalecarāś ca yāsām), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to नलिन्यः

• सखीम्: a friend
• सखीम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• गतोच्छ्वासाम्: who had lost her breath
• गतोच्छ्वासाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + उच्छ्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (gataḥ ucchvāso yasyāḥ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to मैथिलीम्

• अन्वशोचन्त: lamented for
• अन्वशोचन्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √शुच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मैथिलीम्: Maithilī (Sītā)
• मैथिलीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Lotus-ponds with withering lotuses and with disturbed aquatic life like fishes in fright were as if grieving for Sita as one would grieve for a companion who is unable to breathe.

Characters & Entities

• Maithilī (Sītā)
• nalinī (lotus-ponds)
• kamala (lotus)
• mīna (fish)

FAQs

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

The verse elevates compassion as dharma: grief is not limited to humans; the world itself is imagined as empathizing with suffering and injustice.

What is the narrative situation?

The forest landscape reacts to Sītā’s abduction; ponds and aquatic life are described as disturbed and sorrowful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s vulnerability and innocence are foregrounded, prompting universal compassion and moral outrage.