Shloka 41

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

नूनमस्या महाराज न दिव्यान् भोगसत्तमान्।।।।विदधात्यमरश्रेष्ठस्तव बाहुबलार्जितान्।

Transliteration

nūnam asyā mahārāja na divyān bhogasattamān |

vidadhāty amaraśreṣṭhas tava bāhubalārjitān ||

Translation

Gewiss, o großer König, hat der Erhabenste unter den Unsterblichen sie nicht für jene erlesensten göttlichen Genüsse bestimmt, die du durch die Kraft deiner eigenen Arme errungen hast.

Word by Word

• nūnam: surely
• nūnam: Vākyopapatti (वाक्योपपत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūnam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle/adverb

• asyāḥ: of her
• asyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; pronoun genitive

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

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• divyān: divine
• divyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; qualifies bhogasattamān

• bhoga-sattamān: the finest pleasures
• bhoga-sattamān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; ‘best of enjoyments/luxuries’

• vidadhāti: provides / grants
• vidadhāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• amara-śreṣṭhaḥ: the best of immortals (Indra)
• amara-śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; subject of vidadhāti

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• bāhu-bala-arjitān: earned by the strength of your arms
• bāhu-bala-arjitān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक) + arjita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; past participle arjita ‘earned’; qualifies bhogasattamān

Context

"O king! surely she is not ordained by Brahma, the foremost among the immortals to enjoy the luxuries earned by the strength of your arms.

Characters & Entities

• Dhānyamālinī
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It appeals to cosmic order: dharma is aligned with what is fitting and ordained; forcing what is not ‘appointed’ leads to disorder and eventual downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

Dhānyamālinī argues that Sītā is not meant for Rāvaṇa’s pleasures, urging him to abandon the pursuit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Counsel grounded in a sense of order (daiva/dharma-buddhi), attempting to check reckless desire.