Shloka 4

सीताहरणोत्तरं लङ्काप्रवेशः

Sita’s Abduction and Ravana’s Entry into Lanka

Devanagari script

पिङ्गाक्षास्तां विशालाक्षीं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव।।।।विक्रोशन्तीं तथा सीतां ददृशुर्वानरर्षभाः।

Transliteration

piṅgākṣās tāṃ viśālākṣīṃ netrair animiṣair iva |

vikrośantīṃ tathā sītāṃ dadṛśur vānararṣabhāḥ ||

Translation

那些最杰出的猿者，眼色微黄，目光如不瞬般凝视着悉多——她双眸广大，悲号不已。

Word by Word

• piṅgākṣāḥ: the tawny-eyed ones
• piṅgākṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṅga-akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st case), Bahuvacana; बहुव्रीहिः—'piṅgāni akṣīṇi yeṣām' (those whose eyes are tawny)

• tām: her/that (woman)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd case), Ekavacana

• viśālākṣīm: large-eyed
• viśālākṣīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla-akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः—viśālā akṣī yasyāḥ

• netraiḥ: with (their) eyes
• netraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd case), Bahuvacana

• animiṣaiḥ: unblinking
• animiṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: animiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; netraiḥ iti saha viśeṣaṇam

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Sambandha/Upamā (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (particle of comparison)

• vikrośantīm: lamenting/crying out
• vikrośantīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-kruś (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle, शतृ)

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dadṛśuḥ: they saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• vānararṣabhāḥ: the best of monkeys
• vānararṣabhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara-ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa—'vānareṣu ṛṣabhāḥ' (best among monkeys)

Context

In his excitement Ravana failed to notice when Sita dropped down that garment along with ornaments in their midst.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Vānaras (monkeys)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes compassionate witnessing—recognizing suffering truthfully and allowing it to call forth rightful action rather than indifference.

What is the narrative situation?

As Sītā is carried away crying, monkey-chiefs see her and remain fixed on her in stunned attention.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The vānaras’ alertness and empathy—an awakened readiness that later supports dharmic intervention.