Shloka 11

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

ओष्ठप्रकारैरपरा वक्त्रनेत्रैस्तथापराः।सीतामाश्वासयामासुस्तर्जितां तेन रक्षसा।।।।

Transliteration

oṣṭhaprakārair aparā vaktranetrair tathāparāḥ |sītām āśvāsayāmāsuḥ tarjitāṃ tena rakṣasā ||

Translation

Einige suchten Sītā durch Bewegungen der Lippen zu trösten, andere ebenso durch Zeichen von Gesicht und Augen, als sie von jenem Rākṣasa bedroht worden war.

Word by Word

• oṣṭha-prakāraiḥ: with lip-gestures
• oṣṭha-prakāraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + prakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष = oṣṭhasya prakāraḥ (gesture/movement of lips)

• aparā: some (others)
• aparā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; collective sense 'some (women)'

• vaktra-netraiḥ: with faces and eyes
• vaktra-netraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व = vaktraiḥ ca netraiḥ ca

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (तुल्य/एव)

• aparāḥ: others
• aparāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• āśvāsayāmāsuḥ: consoled
• āśvāsayāmāsuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śvas (धातु) with ā- causative (णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; causative = 'made (her) take breath/comforted'

• tarjitām: threatened
• tarjitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarjita (कृदन्त; √tarj धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifying sītām

• tena: by that
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• rakṣasā: demon
• rakṣasā: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

Context

When Sita was threatened by the demon king, the daughters of gods and gandharvas there consoled her through gestures of their lips and eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes offering support to the vulnerable: even without words, gentle reassurance becomes an ethical act against cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāvaṇa’s threatening words, the celestial maidens present try to comfort Sītā through nonverbal gestures.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate encouragement—standing with Sītā and strengthening her resolve amid intimidation.