Shloka 1

राक्षसी-भर्त्सना

The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं राजा रावणः शत्रुरावणः।सन्दिश्य च ततः सर्वा राक्षसीर्निर्जगाम ह।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktvā maithilīṃ rājā rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ | sandiśya ca tataḥ sarvā rākṣasīr nirjagāma ha ||

Translation

Nachdem König Ravana, der Bezwinger der Feinde, so zu Maithili gesprochen hatte, gab er allen Rakshasa-Frauen Anweisungen und ging fort.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः, अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचक (quotative particle)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), अर्थ: having said

• maithilīm: Maithili (Sita)
• maithilīm: Karma (कर्म) of uktvā
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to rājā

• śatru-rāvaṇaḥ: tormentor of enemies
• śatru-rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: शत्रूणां रावणः = tormentor of enemies

• sandiśya: having commanded
• sandiśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√diś (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), अर्थ: having instructed/commanded

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/क्रम-वाचक अव्यय (adverb of sequence)

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rākṣasīḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• rākṣasīḥ: demonesses
• rākṣasīḥ: Karma (कर्म) of sandiśya
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• nirjagāma: departed
• nirjagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir√gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थ: went out/departed

• ha: indeed
• ha: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), कथन-प्रत्यय/स्मरणार्थक (emphatic/indeed)

Context

King Ravana, tormentor of enemies, having thus spoken to Mythili commanded the demonesses and departed.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Maithilī)
• Rākṣasīs

FAQs

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

It shows how adharma becomes systemic: a ruler’s unrighteous intent is enforced through subordinates. Dharma in governance requires protection and justice, not delegated cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

After threatening Sītā, Rāvaṇa leaves her under the watch and pressure of rākṣasī attendants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s endurance (titikṣā) is emphasized, as her trial continues even after Rāvaṇa’s departure.