Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 18

इन्द्रजितो मायासीतावधः

Indrajit’s Illusory Sita Episode and Hanuman’s Rebuke

Devanagari script

दुरात्मन्नात्मनाशायकेशपक्षेपरामृशः ।ब्रह्मर्षीणांकुलेजातोराक्षसींयोनिमाश्रितः ।।।।

Transliteration

durātman ātmanāśāya keśapakṣe parāmṛśaḥ | brahmarṣīṇāṃ kule jāto rākṣasīṃ yonim āśritaḥ ||

Translation

يا سيّئ النية، إن إمساكها من شعرها إنما هو لهلاكك أنت. مع أنك وُلدت في سلالة تُنسب إلى البراهمارشِيّين، فقد احتميت برحمٍ رَكشسيّ وبسلوكها.

Word by Word

• दुरात्मन्: O evil-souled one
• दुरात्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ('दुष्ट आत्मा यस्य'); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मनाशाय: for self-destruction
• आत्मनाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: आत्मनः नाशः); चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• केशपक्षे: in/at the hair-lock
• केशपक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: केशानां पक्षः = 'tress/lock of hair'); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• परामृशः: having seized
• परामृशः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परामृश (कृदन्त; √मृश् स्पर्शने, परा-उपसर्ग)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'having seized/touched' (predicate participle)

• ब्रह्मर्षीणाम्: of the brahmarṣis
• ब्रह्मर्षीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय: ब्रह्मणः ऋषयः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुले: in a lineage
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जातः: born
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन् जनने)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राक्षसीम्: rākṣasī (demonic)
• राक्षसीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (qualifying योनिम्)

• योनिम्: womb/birth
• योनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having resorted to
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आश्रित (कृदन्त; √श्रि सेवने/आश्रये, आ-उपसर्ग)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

"You are ignoble, mean, of sinful prowess, not merciful. You have resolved to take such a sinful action which is not worthy of you. You have no compassion to act in this manner."

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Indrajit (Meghanāda)
• Rākṣasī

FAQs

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

Violence and humiliation directed at a protected woman (Sītā) is adharma and leads to self-destruction; Dharma upholds restraint and protection of the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān rebukes Indrajit for manhandling Sītā, warning that such an act will bring ruin upon the perpetrator.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s dharmic courage: fearless moral condemnation of wrongdoing, especially against an innocent woman.