Shloka 40

सीताहरण

विलापः / The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā

Devanagari script

वित्रस्तका दीनमुखा रुरुदुर्मृगपोतकाः।।।।उद्वीक्ष्योद्वीक्ष्य नयनैरस्रपाताविलेक्षणाः।

Transliteration

vitrastakā dīnamukhā rurudur mṛga-potakāḥ |

udvīkṣyodvīkṣya nayanair asra-pātāvilēkṣaṇāḥ ||

Translation

ہرن کے بچے خوف زدہ اور غمگین چہروں کے ساتھ رونے لگے؛ بار بار اسی سمت آنکھیں اٹھا کر دیکھتے، اور آنسوؤں کی دھار سے ان کی نگاہ دھندلا گئی۔

Word by Word

• वित्रस्तकाः: frightened
• वित्रस्तकाः: कर्तृ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वित्रस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying मृगपोतकाः)

• दीनमुखाः: with distressed faces
• दीनमुखाः: कर्तृ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन-मुख (प्रातिपदिक; दीन + मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम् (qualifying मृगपोतकाः)

• रुरुदुः: wept
• रुरुदुः: क्रिया (आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मृगपोतकाः: young deer (fawns)
• मृगपोतकाः: कर्तृ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगपोतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• उद्वीक्ष्य: having looked up
• उद्वीक्ष्य: हेतु/पूर्वक्रिया (पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having looked up’

• उद्वीक्ष्य: again having looked up
• उद्वीक्ष्य: हेतु/पूर्वक्रिया (पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पुनरुक्ति (repetition) = ‘again and again’

• नयनैः: with (their) eyes
• नयनैः: करण (करणकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (instrumental)

• अस्रपाताविलेक्षणाः: with vision blurred by falling tears
• अस्रपाताविलेक्षणाः: कर्तृ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्र-पात-अविलेक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; अस्र + पात + अविलेक्षण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अस्रपातेन अविलेक्षणाः), विशेषणम् (qualifying मृगपोतकाः)

Context

The ten- headed Ravana abducted Sita who was calling out, O Rama, O Lakshmana with her sweet voice, weeping , looking down on the earth; her hair dishevelled and auspicious, (vermilion) mark on the forehead erased. Ravana abducted this high-minded Sita for his own destruction.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (implied by 'direction in which she went')

FAQs

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

The verse frames compassion as natural and universal: when adharma occurs, even innocent creatures respond with grief, implying dharma aligns with empathy.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā is taken away, the forest creatures react emotionally, indicating the severity of the wrong.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The forest’s innate sensitivity—symbolizing a dharmic world that mourns injustice.