Shloka 4

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

वामः कामो मनुष्याणां यस्मिन् किल निबध्यते।जने तस्मिंस्त्वनुक्रोशः स्नेहश्च किल जायते।।।।

Transliteration

vāmaḥ kāmo manuṣyāṇāṃ yasmin kila nibadhyate |

jane tasmiṃs tv anukrośaḥ snehaś ca kila jāyate ||

Translation

Die Liebe der Menschen ist wahrlich parteiisch: Sie heftet sich an den, in dem Mitgefühl und Zuneigung zu erwachen scheinen.

Word by Word

• वामः: perverse/capricious
• वामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying कामः; Nominative singular

• कामः: desire/passion
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• मनुष्याणाम्: of men/humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• यस्मिन्: in whom/where
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• किल: indeed/it is said
• किल: Sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (hearsay/emphasis)

• निबध्यते: is bound/attached
• निबध्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; Present, 3rd person singular, middle/passive sense: is bound/attached

• जने: in a person
• जने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• तस्मिन्: in that (person)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (but/indeed)

• अनुक्रोशः: compassion
• अनुक्रोशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• स्नेहः: affection
• स्नेहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक; conjunction (and)

• किल: indeed
• किल: Sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• जायते: arises
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; Present, 3rd person singular, middle: arises/is born

Context

"Love is partial. It gets bound to those in whomsoever compassion and friendship is generated, even though they are punishable.

Characters & Entities

• Dhānyamālinī
• Rāvaṇa (implied)

FAQs

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

The verse frames an ethical psychology: genuine attachment should align with compassion and caring (anukrośa, sneha). Desire divorced from these becomes unstable and morally suspect.

What is the narrative situation?

Dhānyamālinī begins advising Rāvaṇa, appealing to how love naturally inclines toward those who reciprocate compassion and affection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of discernment (viveka) in relationships—valuing compassion and mutual regard over coercive desire.