Shloka 20

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

असन्देशात्तु रामस्य तपसश्चानुपालनात्।न त्वां कुर्मि दशग्रीव भस्म भर्मार्ह तेजसा।।।।

Transliteration

asandeśāt tu rāmasya tapasaś cānupālanāt | na tvāṁ kurmi daśagrīva bhasma bhasmārha tejasā ||

Translation

Doch da ich Rāmas Befehl nicht empfangen habe—und weil ich die Zucht meiner Askese wahre—mache ich dich nicht mit meiner feurigen Kraft zu Asche, o Zehnhalsiger, obgleich du es verdienst, verbrannt zu werden.

Word by Word

• असन्देशात्: from absence of (his) order
• असन्देशात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतुः/अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-sandeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ अपादान (ablative of cause): ‘due to lack of permission/message’

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/पुनरुक्ति-बोधक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तपसः: from (my) austerity
• तपसः: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतुः/अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ अपादान

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• अनुपालनात्: from observance (of that)
• अनुपालनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतुः/अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anu-pālana (प्रातिपदिक; anu-√pāl (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ अपादान

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

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कुर्मि: I make/do
• कुर्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दशग्रीव: O Ten-necked (Ravana)
• दशग्रीव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa-grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘he who has ten necks’

• भस्म: ashes
• भस्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म-प्रत्यय (object complement)

• भस्मार्ह: worthy to be burnt to ashes
• भस्मार्ह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasma + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘worthy of ashes (to be reduced to ashes)’

• तेजसा: by (my) power
• तेजसा: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

Context

"O Ravana! I can reduce you to ashes through the fire of my chastity. But I do not have Rama's permission and I want to preserve my power of ascetism even though you are fit to be consigned to the flames.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• tapas (austerity/ascetic power)

FAQs

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

Power must be governed by dharma: even when capable, Sītā restrains herself, acting only within rightful bounds (Rāma’s mandate) and preserving her disciplined virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā confronts Rāvaṇa in captivity, declaring that her inner spiritual power could destroy him, yet she will not act outside dharmic restraint.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maryādā (ethical boundary-keeping) and tapas-based self-control—strength expressed through restraint, not retaliation.