Shloka 9

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वं द्वाभ्यां तु मासाभ्यां भर्तारं मामनिच्छतीम्।मम त्वां प्रातराशार्थमालभन्ते महानसे।।।।

Transliteration

ūrdhvaṃ dvābhyāṃ tu māsābhyāṃ bhartāraṃ mām anicchatīm | mama tvāṃ prātarāśārtham ālabhante mahānase ||

Translation

Wenn du mich nach diesen zwei Monaten immer noch als Ehemann ablehnst, wird man dich in der Küche für mein Morgenmahl schlachten.

Word by Word

• ūrdhvam: afterwards; after
• ūrdhvam: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhvam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (कालवाचक)

• dvābhyām: by/after two
• dvābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd case), द्विवचन; numeral with māsābhyām

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• māsābhyām: by/after (two) months
• māsābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), द्विवचन

• bhartāram: husband
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; object complement with mām

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• anicchatīm: unwilling
• anicchatīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anicchatī (कृदन्त; √iṣ/√icch धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifying tvām

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• prātarāśa-artham: for breakfast
• prātarāśa-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prātarāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; accusative used adverbially = 'for the sake of breakfast'

• ālabhante: they will seize/sacrifice (slaughter)
• ālabhante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु) with ā-
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• mahānase: in the kitchen
• mahānase: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

Context

"If you are still reluctant to accept me as your husband after two months you will be sent to kitchen to be cooked as morning breakfast for me".

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse demonstrates the extremity of adharma: when lust and ego rule, a person weaponizes violence and fear. The Ramayana’s ethical teaching is that dharma protects the vulnerable; it does not terrorize them into submission.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa intensifies his ultimatum by threatening Sītā with death and consumption if she does not yield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s unwavering commitment to truth and righteousness under threat—moral courage (dhairya) in the face of terror.