Shloka 23

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसाधिपः।विवृत्य नयने क्रूरे जानकीमन्ववैक्षत।।।।

Transliteration

sītāyā vacanaṁ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | vivṛtya nayane krūre jānakīm anvavaikṣata ||

Translation

Als Rāvaṇa, der Herr der Rākṣasas, Sītās Worte vernahm, riss er seine grausamen Augen weit auf und starrte Jānakī an.

Word by Word

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• सीतायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• वचनम्: words, speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having heard’

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• राक्षसाधिपः: lord of demons
• राक्षसाधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa-adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘lord of the rākṣasas’

• विवृत्य: having opened wide
• विवृत्य: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√vṛt/√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having opened/widened’

• नयने: (his) two eyes
• नयने: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• क्रूरे: cruel
• क्रूरे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with nayane)

• जानकीम्: Janaki (Sita)
• जानकीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अन्ववैक्षत: looked at, gazed upon
• अन्ववैक्षत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-ava-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

On hearing Janaki, the lord of demons, Ravana looked at her with his cruel eyes opened wide and rolling.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Jānakī)
• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It signals the inner state behind adharma: cruelty and domination manifest even in one’s gaze, contrasting with dharmic self-restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s rebuke, Rāvaṇa reacts with visible anger and menace, intensifying the confrontation in the Aśoka grove setting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, Sītā’s composure stands out—she speaks truth and endures intimidation without yielding.