Shloka 15

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसाधम रामस्य भार्याममिततेजसः।उक्तवानसि यत्पापं क्व गतस्तस्य मोक्ष्यसे।।।।

Transliteration

rākṣasādhama rāmasya bhāryām amitatejasaḥ |uktavān asi yat pāpaṃ kva gatas tasya mokṣyase ||

Translation

O niederträchtigster der Rākṣasas! Die sündhaften Worte, die du gegen die Gattin Rāmas von unermesslichem Glanz gesprochen hast — wohin willst du gehen, um ihrer Folge zu entkommen?

Word by Word

• rākṣasa-adhama: O vilest demon
• rākṣasa-adhama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय = 'lowest (among) demons'

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• bhāryām: wife
• bhāryām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• amita-tejasaḥ: of the immeasurably radiant (one)
• amita-tejasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि qualifying rāmasya: 'whose splendor is immeasurable'

• uktavān: have spoken
• uktavān: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: uktavat (कृदन्त; √vac धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्यय (perfect participle active), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; with asi forms periphrastic perfect

• asi: you are (i.e., you have)
• asi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; auxiliary with uktavān

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; correlating with pāpam

• pāpam: sin; evil
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• kva: where?
• kva: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; interrogative adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• gataḥ: gone
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; with implied 'tvam' = 'having gone'

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; refers to pāpam

• mokṣyase: will you be freed/escape
• mokṣyase: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Context

"O stupid demon where can you go to escape the consequences of your sinful words spoken against Rama's consort of undimmed brilliance?

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches moral causality: sinful speech and intent generate consequences from which one cannot simply flee.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā warns Rāvaṇa that his insulting and coercive words toward her will inevitably bring retribution.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Righteous fearlessness—Sītā invokes the certainty of karma and Rāma’s moral power without intimidation.