Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 12

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply

Devanagari script

ताभिराश्वासिता सीता रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्।उवाचात्महितं वाक्यं वृत्तशौण्डीर्यगर्वितम्।।।।

Transliteration

tābhir āśvāsitā sītā rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam |uvāca ātmahitaṃ vākyaṃ vṛttaśauṇḍīryagarvitam ||

Translation

فلما واسينَها، خاطبت سيتا رافانا سيدَ الرَّاكشاسا بكلامٍ قصدت به صونَ نفسها—كلامًا مفعمًا بعزّةٍ لا تهاب، نابعةٍ من استقامة سيرتها.

Word by Word

• tābhiḥ: by them
• tābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• āśvāsitā: consoled
• āśvāsitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśvāsita (कृदन्त; causative of √śvas)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; passive sense 'having been consoled'

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• rāvaṇam: Ravana
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• rākṣasa-adhipam: lord of demons
• rākṣasa-adhipam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ātmahitam: for her own good
• ātmahitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (कृदन्त; √dhā/√hi?) as adjective 'beneficial'
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifying vākyam; तत्पुरुष = ātmanaḥ hitam

• vākyam: speech; words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• vṛtta-śauṇḍīrya-garvitam: proud with steadfast valor
• vṛtta-śauṇḍīrya-garvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक) + śauṇḍīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + garvita (कृदन्त; √garv धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifying vākyam; compound sense: 'proud because of (her) conduct and valor' (instrumental/causal tatpurusha)

Context

Having thus been consoled, Sita, proud of the power of her virtues, said this to Ravana in self-defence:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here is steadfastness in truth and virtue: Sītā’s moral strength becomes her defense, enabling fearless speech against injustice.

What is the narrative situation?

After being consoled, Sītā begins her direct rebuke of Rāvaṇa in Aśoka-vana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage (śaurya grounded in vṛtta): bravery rooted in purity of conduct rather than physical power.