Shloka 28

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

तरुणादित्यवर्णाभ्यां कुण्डलाभ्यां विभूषितः।रक्तपल्लवपुष्पाभ्यामशोकाभ्यामिवाचलः।।।।

Transliteration

taruṇādityavarṇābhyāṁ kuṇḍalābhyāṁ vibhūṣitaḥ | raktapallavapuṣpābhyām aśokābhyām ivācalaḥ ||

Translation

Mit Ohrringen geschmückt, die wie die junge Morgensonne leuchteten, stand er da wie ein Berg, der zwei Aśoka-Bäume mit roten Blättern und Blüten trägt.

Word by Word

• taruṇa-āditya-varṇābhyām: of rising-sun color
• taruṇa-āditya-varṇābhyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: taruṇādityavarṇa (प्रातिपदिक; taruṇa + āditya + varṇa)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter sense, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); agrees with kuṇḍalābhyām; तत्पुरुष: taruṇasya ādityasya varṇaḥ = color of the rising sun

• kuṇḍalābhyām: with (two) earrings
• kuṇḍalābhyām: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vibhūṣitaḥ: adorned
• vibhūṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√bhūṣ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्/क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• rakta-pallava-puṣpābhyām: with red leaves and flowers
• rakta-pallava-puṣpābhyām: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raktapallavapuṣpa (प्रातिपदिक; rakta + pallava + puṣpa)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); dvandva: pallava + puṣpa (leaves and flowers) qualified by rakta (red)

• aśokābhyām: with two aśoka trees
• aśokābhyām: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); used in simile

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), upamā-vācaka (उपमावाचक)

• acalaḥ: a mountain
• acalaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘mountain’ as upamāna base

Context

He stood like a mountain with two Ashoka trees clothed with red leaves and flowers in the form of ear-rings of the colour of the rising Sun.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• aśoka tree
• sun (āditya)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the epic’s moral contrast: dazzling beauty and ornament can coexist with adharma; dharma is an inner alignment, not outward brilliance.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator completes a sequence of visual similes describing Rāvaṇa’s appearance as he confronts Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast to ornamented power, Sītā’s austere fidelity and truthfulness (satya) are framed as the real spiritual radiance.