Shloka 13

राक्षसी-भर्त्सना

The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā

Devanagari script

प्रियां बहुमतां भार्यां त्यक्त्वा राजा महाबलः।।।।सर्वासां च महाभागां त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः।

Transliteration

priyāṃ bahumatāṃ bhāryāṃ tyaktvā rājā mahābalaḥ | sarvāsāṃ ca mahābhāgāṃ tvām upaiṣyati rāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Der König Rāvaṇa, von großer Macht, wird, selbst wenn er seine geliebte und meistbegünstigte Gemahlin verlässt, zu dir kommen—du, Hochbegnadete unter allen Frauen—um dich zu gewinnen.

Word by Word

• priyām: dear
• priyām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies bhāryām

• bahumatām: highly esteemed
• bahumatām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahumatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; 'much-honored/highly valued' qualifying bhāryām

• bhāryām: wife
• bhāryām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु) + ktvā (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा); prior action

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mahābalaḥ: mighty
• mahābalaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'great (is his) strength'

• sarvāsām: of all
• sarvāsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; qualifies (bhāryāṇām) understood

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• mahābhāgām: most noble/fortunate
• mahābhāgām: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies tvām; 'greatly fortunate/noble'

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• upaiṣyati: will approach/seek
• upaiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + i (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

'Even renouncing his highly respectable, favourite wife among all, mighty Ravana is prepared to accept you.

Characters & Entities

• Praghasā
• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It exposes adharma in treating relationships as disposable and using flattery to entice wrongdoing. The Ramayana upholds satya and fidelity: dharma is not advanced by another’s abandonment of duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Praghasā tries to persuade Sītā by implying she will be specially chosen by Rāvaṇa, even over his existing favored queen.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s constancy (niṣṭhā) and marital righteousness: she refuses status or privilege gained through betrayal of dharma.