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Shloka 42

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

अकामां कामयानस्य शरीरमुपतप्यते।।5.22.42।।इच्छन्तीं कामयानस्य प्रीतिर्भवति शोभना।

akāmāṃ kāmayānasya śarīram upatapyate |

icchantīṃ kāmayānasya prītir bhavati śobhanā ||

Wenn ein begehrender Mann eine Frau ohne Begehren verfolgt, wird sein eigener Leib nur gequält; doch wenn er eine willige Frau sucht, ist die entstehende Freude wahrhaft passend und schön.

akāmāma woman without desire
akāmām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roota-kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; ‘undesiring’ (negated)
kāmayānasyaof a lustful man
kāmayānasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootkāmayāna (प्रातिपदिक) < √kam (धातु)
FormPuṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; genitive ‘of the desiring man’
śarīramthe body
śarīram:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsakaliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana
upatapyateis tormented
upatapyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootupa-√tap (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada (passive-like sense)
icchantīma woman who desires
icchantīm:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Root√iṣ (धातु) → icchantī (कृदन्त)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; present active participle (शतृ) used adjectivally
kāmayānasyaof a lustful man
kāmayānasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootkāmayāna (प्रातिपदिक) < √kam (धातु)
FormPuṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana
prītiḥpleasure / affection
prītiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprīti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana
bhavatibecomes
bhavati:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada
śobhanāpleasant / delightful
śobhanā:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśobhanā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; predicate adjective agreeing with prītiḥ
D
Dhānyamālinī
R
Rāvaṇa
S
Sītā (implied as akāmā)

FAQs

It states a dharmic norm for desire: coercion against the unwilling yields only suffering and is unfitting; mutual willingness is the proper basis for pleasure.

Dhānyamālinī argues against Rāvaṇa’s forced pursuit of Sītā by contrasting unwillingness with willing consent.

Restraint and discernment in kāma—recognizing that ethical conduct requires respecting another’s will.