Shloka 29

सीताभर्त्सना

The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

Devanagari script

बहून्यप्रियरूपाणि वचनानि सुदुर्मते।।5.24.29।।

अनुक्रोशान्मृदुत्वाच्च सोढानि तव मैथिलि।

Transliteration

bahūny apriyarūpāṇi vacanāni sudurmate || 5.24.29 ||

anukrośān mṛdutvāc ca soḍhāni tava maithili |

Translation

O übelgesinnte Maithili, wir haben viele deiner harschen und unangenehmen Worte ertragen, aus Mitleid und aus unserer Sanftmut heraus.

Word by Word

• bahūni: many
• bahūni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा/1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa of "vacanāni"

• apriya-rūpāṇi: of unpleasant form; harsh
• apriya-rūpāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-priya (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa sense: "apriyasya rūpam"), Napumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of "vacanāni"

• vacanāni: words; utterances
• vacanāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• sudurmate: O very wicked-minded one
• sudurmate: Sambodhyā (सम्बोध्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-durmati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) (intensifying: "su" + "durmati"), Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Sambodhana (सम्बोधन), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• anukrośāt: out of compassion
• anukrośāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anukrośa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Pañcamī (पञ्चमी/5th, Ablative), Ekavacana; hetu/ कारणार्थे

• mṛdutvāt: due to gentleness
• mṛdutvāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdutva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Pañcamī (Ablative), Ekavacana; hetu/ कारणार्थे

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (समुच्चय/and)

• soḍhāni: (have been) endured
• soḍhāni: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sah (धातु) + kta (क्त) → soḍha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्यय), Napumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmavācya sense "have been endured"

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी/Genitive), Ekavacana; possessive

• maithili: O Maithili (Sita)
• maithili: Sambodhyā (सम्बोध्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

Context

'O wicked Mythili! we have tolerated many unpleasant words uttered by you due to our kindness and mildness৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Vikaṭā
• Sītā (Maithilī)

FAQs

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

The verse shows a reversal of ethics: the aggressor claims moral high ground (“we were gentle”) while harassing the captive. Dharma demands protecting the vulnerable and speaking truthfully, not reframing cruelty as kindness.

What is the narrative situation?

Vikaṭā rebukes Sītā, claiming the rākṣasīs have been patient with her refusals and sharp replies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and self-respect: Sītā’s ‘unpleasant words’ are essentially her truthful refusal to accept adharma.