Shloka 24

सीताहरण

विलापः / The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā

Devanagari script

सा पद्मगौरी हेमाभा रावणं जनकात्मजा।विद्युद्घनमिवाविश्य शुशुभे तप्तभूषणा।।।।

Transliteration

sā padmagaurī hemābhā rāvaṇaṃ janakātmajā |

vidyudghanam ivāviśya śuśubhe taptabhūṣaṇā ||

Translation

Con gái vua Janaka, trắng ngần như sen, ánh vàng rực rỡ, trang sức lấp lánh, bám lấy Rāvaṇa mà vẫn chói sáng như tia chớp nhập vào đám mây đen.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• पद्मगौरी: lotus-fair
• पद्मगौरी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म-गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘lotus-fair/lotus-white’, विशेषण

• हेमाभा: golden-lustrous
• हेमाभा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम-आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘having golden lustre’, विशेषण

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter
• जनकात्मजा: कर्ता (apposition to सा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक-आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘daughter of Janaka’

• विद्युत्-घनम्: a lightning-cloud
• विद्युत्-घनम्: उपमान
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः: ‘lightning-cloud’ (i.e., dark cloud with lightning), उपमान

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• आविश्य: having entered/clung to
• आविश्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having entered/clung to’

• शुशुभे: shone
• शुशुभे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तप्तभूषणा: with glowing ornaments
• तप्तभूषणा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त-भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘with glowing ornaments’ (taptá = heated/glowing), विशेषण

Context

Bright like a golden lotus, adorned with gold ornaments, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, held by Ravana, looked like a streak of lightning shining bright in a dark cloud.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as unextinguishable moral light: even when surrounded by darkness (violent adharma), righteousness retains its brilliance and identity.

What is the narrative situation?

In the midst of the abduction, Sītā’s radiant presence is described against Rāvaṇa’s dark, cloudlike menace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral luminosity and resilience—Sītā’s virtue remains visible, not absorbed by the darkness around her.