Shloka 10

सीताव्यथा

वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement

Devanagari script

वृत्तशीलकुले जातामाचारवति धार्मिके।पुनःसंस्कारमापन्नां जातामिव च दुष्कुले।।।।

Transliteration

vṛttaśīlakule jātām ācāravati dhārmike |

punaḥsaṃskāram āpannāṃ jātām iva ca duṣkule ||

Translation

وہ نیک سیرت خاندان میں پیدا ہوئی، دین دار آداب میں پرورش پائی؛ مگر اب یوں دکھائی دیتی تھی گویا اسے پھر سے تطہیر کے سنسکار سے گزارا جا رہا ہو—جیسے کسی پست گھرانے میں جنمی ہو۔

Word by Word

• vṛttaśīlakule: in a family of good conduct and character
• vṛttaśīlakule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta + śīla + kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समाससमूहः; (वृत्तं च शीलं च यस्य तत्) वृत्तशीलम्; वृत्तशीलस्य कुलम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; neuter, locative singular

• jātām: born
• jātām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle, feminine, accusative singular

• ācāravati: in a well-traditional/virtuous (setting)
• ācāravati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ācāravat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; feminine, locative singular (agreeing with kule implied)

• dhārmike: in a righteous (setting)
• dhārmike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhārmika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; feminine, locative singular (agreeing with kule implied)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (repetition)

• saṃskāram: refinement, consecration
• saṃskāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃskāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; masculine, accusative singular

• āpannām: having attained/undergone
• āpannām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-pad (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle, feminine, accusative singular

• jātām: born
• jātām: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle, feminine, accusative singular

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction

• duṣkule: in a bad family
• duṣkule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣ + kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (दुष्टं कुलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; neuter, locative singular

Context

On just seeing Ravana, the lord of demons from a distance, adorned with the best of ornaments the charming, young, blameles princess Vaidehi of beautiful waist trembled like a banana plant shaken by a strong wind.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (implied)

FAQs

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

True purity is intrinsic and ethical, not erased by external contamination; the verse highlights how adharma can unjustly impose the burden of “proof” upon the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

In describing Sītā’s condition in captivity, the narration conveys how a virtuous woman is made to feel socially and emotionally stained by coercive surroundings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast integrity (śīla) and truthfulness (satya): her righteousness remains, even when circumstances try to redefine her worth.