Shloka 12

Devanagari script

सीतामुत्पलपत्राक्षींनीलकुञ्चितमूर्थजाम् ।अवदद्वैवरारोहंमध्येवानररक्षसाम् ।।6.118.12।।

Transliteration

sītām utpala-patrākṣīṃ nīla-kuñcita-mūrdhajām | avadad vai varārohāṃ madhye vānararakṣasām ||

Translation

在婆那罗与罗刹众之间，罗摩对悉多开口——她莲瓣般的双眼，乌黑卷曲的发丝，身姿娴雅——而其言语沉重，心绪郁结。

Word by Word

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• उत्पलपत्राक्षीम्: whose eyes are like lotus petals
• उत्पलपत्राक्षीम्: Karma-pradhana-visheshana (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्पल + पत्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member tatpurusha: ‘lotus-petal-eyed’

• नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजाम्: with dark curly hair
• नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजाम्: Karma-pradhana-visheshana (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + कुञ्चित + मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘dark and curly-haired’ (mūrdhajā = hair)

• अवदत्: spoke
• अवदत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• वरारोहाम्: beautiful-figured
• वरारोहाम्: Karma-pradhana-visheshana (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर + आरोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpurusha: ‘excellent-limbed/beautiful-figured’

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वानररक्षसाम्: of the Vanaras and Rakshasas
• वानररक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्व (इतरेतर): ‘of the monkeys and the rakshasas’

Context

In the midst of Vanaras and Rakshasas, Rama spoke with great discomfort to Sita whose eyes were like lotus petals and hair was dark and curly and whose limbs were beautiful.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma in public speech: actions and words of leaders occur before witnesses; moral judgment and social legitimacy are shaped in the assembly.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma addresses Sītā publicly, with allies and former enemies present, intensifying the stakes of his words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s willingness to face scrutiny openly—though emotionally painful, he does not hide the issue from the public sphere.