Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 34
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः
Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply
एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा।गोकर्णीं हस्तिकर्णीं च लम्बकर्णीमकर्णिकाम्।।5.22.33।।हस्तिपाद्यश्वपाद्यौ च गोपादीं पादचूलिकाम्।एकाक्षीमेकपादीं च पृथुपादीमपादिकाम्।।5.22.34।।अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवामतिमात्रकुचोदरीम्।अतिमात्रास्यनेत्रां च दीर्घजिह्वामजिह्विकाम्।।5.22.35।।अनासिकां सिंहमुखीं गोमुखीं सूकरीमुखीम्।
ekākṣīm eka-karṇāṃ ca karṇa-prāvaraṇāṃ tathā |
go-karṇīṃ hasti-karṇīṃ ca lamba-karṇīm akarṇikām ||
hasti-pādyaśva-pādyau ca go-pādīṃ pāda-cūlikām |
ekākṣīm eka-pādīṃ ca pṛthu-pādīm apādikām ||
ati-mātra-śiro-grīvām ati-mātra-kuca-odarīm |
ati-mātrāsya-netrāṃ ca dīrgha-jihvām ajihvikām ||
anāsikāṃ siṃha-mukhīṃ go-mukhīṃ sūkarī-mukhīm ||
وكانت هناك راكشاسياتٌ بهيئاتٍ مشوّهة: منهنّ ذاتُ عينٍ واحدة، وذاتُ أذنٍ واحدة، ومن تُغطّى أذناها؛ ومن لهنّ آذانُ بقرٍ، ومن لهنّ آذانُ فيلة، ومن لهنّ آذانٌ طويلةٌ متدلّية، ومن لا أذنَ لهنّ؛ ومن لهنّ أقدامُ فيلة، أو حوافرُ خيلٍ أو بقر، ومن على أقدامهنّ شعر؛ ومن هي ذاتُ قدمٍ واحدة، ومن عريضةُ القدمين، بل ومن لا قدمَ لها؛ ومن عظمت رأسُها وعنقُها، وضخمت ثديُها وبطنُها، واتّسع وجهُها وعيناها؛ ومن طالت لسانُها، ومن لا لسانَ لها؛ ومن لا أنفَ لها—ومنهنّ بوجهِ أسدٍ، أو بوجهِ بقرةٍ، أو بوجهِ خنزيرٍ بريّ.
Of them one had one eye, the other one ear, another with ears covered, one had the ear of a cow, another had ears of an elephant and yet another, long, hanging ears. One had the feet of an elephant, another, hoofs of a horse and still another of a cow. While one had a single foot, another had broad feet and yet another no feet at all. One had a long neck and a large head. One had large breasts and belly. One had a big face and eyes, another had a long tongue and yet another no tongue at all. One had no nose and still another had a lion face and yet another the face of a cow.
FAQs
The verse supports a dharmic contrast: adharma often surrounds itself with terror and intimidation. Dharma stands firm even when confronted by fear-inducing forces.
The narration describes the dreadful-looking rākṣasīs stationed around Sītā in Aśoka-vana, reinforcing the atmosphere of threat and confinement.
Courage and steadfastness (dhairya) are implied in Sītā’s endurance amid frightening guardians.