Shloka 38

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

इति प्रतिसमादिश्य राक्षसेन्द्रः पुनः पुनः।।।।काममन्युपरीतात्मा जानकीं पर्यतर्जयत्।

Transliteration

iti pratisamādiśya rākṣasendraḥ punaḥ punaḥ |

kāmamanyuparītātmā jānākīṃ paryatarjayat ||

Translation

So erteilte der Herr der Rākṣasas seine Befehle immer wieder; von Lust und Zorn umhüllt, bedrohte er Jānakī.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle

• pratisamādiśya: having instructed repeatedly
• pratisamādiśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-sam-√diś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal; ‘having repeatedly instructed/ordered’

• rākṣasa-indraḥ: the demon-king
• rākṣasa-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; ‘lord of rākṣasas’

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (repetition)

• kāma-manyuparīta-ātmā: one whose mind was overcome by lust and anger
• kāma-manyuparīta-ātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + manyu (प्रातिपदिक) + parīta (कृदन्त) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘whose mind/self is overcome by desire and anger’

• jānakīm: Janaki
• jānakīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• paryatarjayat: threatened
• paryatarjayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√tarj (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

The demon king repeatedly commanded the ogresses burning in anger and passion and threatened Sita again and again, pointing his finger at her.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Jānakī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights adharma: when lust (kāma) and anger (krodha/manyu) overtake the mind, one resorts to intimidation and coercion, violating righteous conduct toward others—especially toward a vulnerable person.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, after repeatedly issuing instructions to the rākṣasīs, turns his aggression directly toward Sītā and threatens her again and again.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (implicit), Sītā’s steadfastness in dharma is foregrounded in the surrounding narrative: she endures threats without yielding, while Rāvaṇa displays the vice of uncontrolled passions.