Shloka 45

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

देवगन्धर्वकन्याश्च नागकन्याश्च सर्वतः।।।।परिवार्य दशग्रीवं विविशुस्तं गृहोत्तमम्।

Transliteration

devagandharvakanyāś ca nāgakanyāś ca sarvataḥ |

parivārya daśagrīvaṃ viviśus taṃ gṛhottamam ||

Translation

Die Töchter der Devas und der Gandharvas, ebenso die Töchter der Nāgas, von allen Seiten herbeigekommen, umringten Daśagrīva und traten mit ihm in jenen herrlichen Palast ein.

Word by Word

• deva-gandharva-kanyāḥ: maidens of gods and gandharvas
• deva-gandharva-kanyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; dvandva (deva + gandharva) as qualifier of kanyāḥ; ‘maidens of gods and gandharvas’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• nāga-kanyāḥ: nāga-maidens
• nāga-kanyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; ‘maidens of nāgas’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• sarvataḥ: from all sides
• sarvataḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (from all sides)

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

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

• viviśuḥ: entered
• viviśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √viś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• gṛha-uttamam: the excellent palace
• gṛha-uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; ‘excellent house/palace’

Context

Then the daughters of gods, gandharvas and nagas gathered round and followed him into his excellent palace.

Characters & Entities

• Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)

FAQs

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

Status and entourages do not legitimize wrongdoing; dharma is not conferred by prestige but by righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is accompanied by many maidens of various orders as he goes into his palace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the virtue of simplicity and fidelity (seen in Rāma–Sītā) stands opposed to indulgent excess.