Shloka 16

सीताभर्त्सना

The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

Devanagari script

ऊचुश्च परमक्रुद्धाः प्रगृह्याशु परश्वधान्।।5.24.16।।नेयमर्हति भर्तारं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्।

Transliteration

ūcuś ca paramakruddhāḥ pragṛhya āśu paraśvadhān ॥5.24.16॥

na iyam arhati bhartāraṃ rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam ।

Translation

Von Zorn entbrannt ergriffen sie sogleich ihre Äxte und riefen: „Diese Frau ist nicht würdig, Rāvaṇa, den Herrn der Rākṣasas, zum Gemahl zu haben!“

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla/krama-avyaya (then/thereupon)

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म/object of abhigamya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Eka-vacana

• śiṃśupām: śiṃśupā (tree)
• śiṃśupām: Karma (कर्म/apposition to tām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṃśupā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Eka-vacana

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Eka-vacana

• rākṣasībhiḥ: by ogresses
• rākṣasībhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd, instrumental), Bahu-vacana

• samāvṛtā: surrounded
• samāvṛtā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of sītā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-āvṛtā (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; sam + ā + √vṛ (वृ/वृत्))
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Eka-vacana; past participle: ‘surrounded’

• abhigamya: having reached
• abhigamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + √gam (गम्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त): ‘having reached’

• viśāla-akṣī: large-eyed
• viśāla-akṣī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of sītā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Eka-vacana; bahuvrīhi: ‘she whose eyes are large’

• tasthau: stood; remained
• tasthau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; parasmaipada

• śoka-pariplutā: overwhelmed by sorrow
• śoka-pariplutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of sītā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + paripluta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pari + √plu प्लु)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: śokena pariplutā (‘flooded/overwhelmed with sorrow’)

Context

The enraged ogresses immediately picked up the axes and rose up saying, 'she is unfit to have the demon king, Ravana as her husband'.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• rākṣasī (ogresses)
• paraśvadha (axe)

FAQs

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

It contrasts dharma with the abuse of authority: forcing consent through fear violates righteousness and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

The guards escalate from verbal abuse to brandishing weapons, asserting that Sītā should accept Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s moral integrity is the silent counterpoint—her refusal makes the oppressors resort to violence.