Shloka 39

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

उपगम्य ततः शीघ्रं राक्षसी धान्यमालिनी।।।।परिष्वज्य दशग्रीवमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

Transliteration

upagamya tataḥ śīghraṃ rākṣasī dhānyamālinī |

pariṣvajya daśagrīvam idaṃ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

Darauf trat die Rākṣasī Dhānyamālinī eilends heran und, Daśagrīva umarmend, sprach sie diese Worte.

Word by Word

• upagamya: having approached
• upagamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal; ‘having approached’

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (from then/thereafter)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghram (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• rākṣasī: the rākṣasī (female demon)
• rākṣasī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• dhānya-mālinī: Dhanyamalini
• dhānya-mālinī: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānya (प्रातिपदिक) + mālinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; proper name/appositive; ‘Dhānyamālinī’

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• pariṣvajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√svaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal; ‘having embraced’

• daśa-grīvam: the ten-necked (Ravana)
• daśa-grīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi epithet ‘the ten-necked (Rāvaṇa)’

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; deictic pronoun

• vacanam: speech / words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

An ogress called Dhanyamalini at once approached the ten-headed Ravana and embracing him, said:.

Characters & Entities

• Dhānyamālinī
• Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)

FAQs

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

It introduces a moment where persuasion replaces violence: counsel and restraint can interrupt wrongdoing, even within an adharma-driven setting.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāvaṇa threatens Sītā, Dhānyamālinī intervenes physically and verbally, preparing to redirect him away from Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhānyamālinī’s practical tact (nīti) is emphasized—she uses closeness and speech to influence a powerful king.