Shloka 24

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

स त्वं नाम च गोत्रञ्च कुलं चाचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः।एकश्च दण्डकारण्ये किमर्थं चरसि द्विज।।3.47.24।।

Transliteration

sa tvaṃ nāma ca gotraṃ ca kulaṃ cācakṣva tattvataḥ | ekaś ca daṇḍakāraṇye kimarthaṃ carasi dvija ||

Translation

So sage mir denn, o Brahmane, wahrheitsgemäß deinen Namen, dein Gotra, dein Geschlecht und deine Familie; und zu welchem Zweck wanderst du allein in diesem Dandaka-Wald umher?

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (manner adverb)

• बृवन्त्याम्: while (she) was speaking
• बृवन्त्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• सीतायाम्: when Sita (was)
• सीतायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी

• रामपत्न्याम्: (in) Rama's wife
• रामपत्न्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma-patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रामस्य पत्नी); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी

• महाबलः: mighty, very strong
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of रावणः)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उत्तरम्: answer, reply
• उत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तीव्रम्: harsh, intense
• तीव्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīvra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of उत्तरम्)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राक्षसाधिपः: lord of the rakshasas
• राक्षसाधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa-adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राक्षसानाम् अधिपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-विशेषण/उपाधि

Context

O brahmin, tell me your name, your gotra and your pedigree. And the purpose for which you are going about all alone in this Dandaka forest

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)
• Rāvaṇa (implicit, as the addressed 'dvija')

FAQs

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

Satya and discernment: Sītā requests truthful identity and purpose, reflecting dharmic caution—proper conduct includes verifying claims, especially in vulnerable settings.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, sensing something unusual, asks the lone ‘brahmin’ to state his identity and why he is alone in the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s prudence and commitment to truth-seeking (tattvataḥ), aligned with righteous social etiquette.