Shloka 18

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

इमे ते नयने क्रूरे विरूपे कृष्णपिङ्गले।क्षितौ न पतिते कस्मान्मामनार्य निरीक्षितः।।।।

Transliteration

ime te nayane krūre virūpe kṛṣṇapiṅgale |kṣitau na patite kasmān mām anārya nirīkṣitaḥ ||

Translation

Du Niederträchtiger! Warum fallen deine grausamen, missgestalteten, dunkelbraunen Augen nicht zu Boden, wenn du mich so anstarrst?

Word by Word

• इमे: these
• इमे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘these (two)’

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘your’

• नयने: two eyes
• नयने: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• क्रूरे: cruel
• क्रूरे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• विरूपे: ugly, deformed
• विरूपे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• कृष्णपिङ्गले: dark-brownish
• कृष्णपिङ्गले: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa + piṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (kṛṣṇāni ca piṅgalāni ca)

• क्षितौ: on the ground
• क्षितौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• पतिते: fallen down
• पतिते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: patita (कृदन्त; √pat (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘having fallen’ (predicate participle for nayane)

• कस्मात्: why
• कस्मात्: Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय-प्रयोग (ablative used adverbially: ‘why/from what reason’)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अनार्य: O ignoble one
• अनार्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th), एकवचन; निन्दार्थ संबोधन

• निरीक्षितः: have looked at
• निरीक्षितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-īkṣita (कृदन्त; nir-√īkṣ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मणि/भावे ‘(you) have looked’

Context

"O ignoble wretch! I wonder why your dark brown, distorted eyes do not fall off (the socket) when you look at me (lustfully).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma protects dignity and condemns predatory desire; Sītā treats lustful looking as a moral violation, not a trivial act.

What is the narrative situation?

In the confrontation, Sītā rebukes Rāvaṇa’s gaze and intent, expressing moral disgust and outrage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-respect and purity (śīla): Sītā’s chastity is paired with uncompromising denunciation of harassment.