Shloka 40

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

मया क्रीड महाराज सीतया किं तवानया।।।।विवर्णया कृपणया मानुष्या राक्षसेश्वर।

Transliteration

mayā krīḍa mahārāja sītayā kiṃ tavānayā |

vivarṇayā kṛpaṇayā mānuṣyā rākṣaseśvara ||

Translation

Ergötze dich mit mir, o großer König; was nützt dir diese Sītā—bleich, elend und nur ein Mensch—o Herr der Rākṣasas?

Word by Word

• mayā: with me
• mayā: Sahakāraka/Karaṇa (सहकारक/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; pronoun instrumental

• krīḍa: sport / play
• krīḍa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• mahā-rāja: O great king
• mahā-rāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• sītayā: with Sita
• sītayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• kim: what (use)?
• kim: Prayojana-praśna (प्रयोजनप्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative particle used adverbially

• tava: for you / of you
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; pronoun genitive

• anayā: with this woman
• anayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; pronoun instrumental

• vivarṇayā: pale
• vivarṇayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; agrees with anayā

• kṛpaṇayā: wretched
• kṛpaṇayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; agrees with anayā

• mānuṣyā: human
• mānuṣyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānuṣī/mānuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; ‘human (female)’ agrees with anayā

• rākṣasa-īśvara: O lord of demons
• rākṣasa-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

Context

"O king of demons, sport with me, my lord. What purpose will be served with this pale wretched Sita, a human being after all?

Characters & Entities

• Dhānyamālinī
• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Though spoken from a self-interested angle, it indirectly condemns coercion: desire should not target one who is distressed and unwilling; dharma requires respect for consent and protection of the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

Dhānyamālinī tries to divert Rāvaṇa away from Sītā by offering herself and belittling Sītā’s suitability.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pragmatic influence (upāya) is emphasized—using persuasion to shift a powerful person’s attention, even if the motive is not purely ethical.