Shloka 4

सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः

Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातस्सिंहस्कन्धो महाद्युतिः।लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा यस्ते प्राणान्हरिष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule jātaḥ siṃha-skandho mahā-dyutiḥ |

lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā yas te prāṇān hariṣyati ||

Translation

Geboren im Geschlecht der Ikṣvāku, strahlend und mit löwengleichen Schultern: Er, der dir das Leben nehmen wird, wird kommen – zusammen mit seinem Bruder Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

• ikṣvākūṇām: of the Ikṣvākus
• ikṣvākūṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• kule: in the dynasty
• kule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• jātaḥ: born
• jātaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of yaḥ (Rāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'born'

• siṃha-skandhaḥ: lion-shouldered
• siṃha-skandhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + skandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Karmadhāraya: 'lion-shouldered'

• mahā-dyutiḥ: highly radiant
• mahā-dyutiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dyuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Karmadhāraya: 'greatly radiant'

• lakṣmaṇena: with Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇena: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Ekavacana

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha-bodhaka (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (preposition-like), 'together with'

• bhrātrā: with (his) brother
• bhrātrā: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) of hariṣyati
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• te: your
• te: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana (enclitic form)

• prāṇān: lives/breaths
• prāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• hariṣyati: will take away
• hariṣyati: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Periphrastic future), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

The brilliant Rama of the Ikshvaku dynasty with the lion's shoulders will come with his brother Lakshmana and take away your life.

Characters & Entities

• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• Rāma (implied)
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma asserts that wrongdoing invites consequences: Sītā speaks truthfully about righteous retribution—Rāma, aligned with dharma, will punish adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā confronts Rāvaṇa after abduction, declaring Rāma’s lineage and power and warning him of impending justice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless truth-speaking (satya-vacana) and moral courage: Sītā speaks firmly even while endangered.