Shloka 25

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

चलाग्रमकुटप्रांशुश्चित्रमाल्यानुलेपनः।रक्तमाल्याम्बरधर तत्सङ्गदविभूषणः।।।।

Transliteration

calāgramakuṭaprāṁśuś citramālyānulepanaḥ | raktamālyāmbaradharaḥ tatsaṅgadavibhūṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Hoch ragte er unter einer schwankenden Krone, geschmückt mit prächtigen Girlanden und Salbungen; rote Girlanden und Gewänder trug er und glänzte mit leuchtenden Armreifen.

Word by Word

• चलाग्रमकुटप्रांशुः: tall with a wavering crown-tip
• चलाग्रमकुटप्रांशुः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cala-agra-makuṭa-prāṃśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘whose tall (prāṃśu) crown-tip is unsteady’

• चित्रमाल्यानुलेपनः: adorned with splendid garlands and unguents
• चित्रमाल्यानुलेपनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra-mālya-anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘having variegated garlands and unguent-smearing’

• रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरः: wearing red garlands and clothes
• रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta-mālya-ambara-dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘wearing red garlands and garments’

• तत्सङ्गदविभूषणः: ornamented with shining armlets
• तत्सङ्गदविभूषणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat-saṅgada-vibhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘adorned with those armlets/ornaments’ (tat = those, saṅgada = armlet)

Context

He appeared taller with an unsteady crown. He was wearing wonderful red flower garlands and clothes and was smeared with unguents, shining in ornamental armlets.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• crown (makuṭa)
• armlets (saṅgada)

FAQs

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

Adornment and status cannot substitute for dharma; ethical worth is measured by conduct, not display.

What is the narrative situation?

The poet catalogs Rāvaṇa’s regal ornaments and attire as part of the scene following Sītā’s defiance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negative exemplar: vanity and indulgence are shown as companions to adharma, setting up moral contrast with Sītā’s austerity.