Shloka 34

सीताभर्त्सना

The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

Devanagari script

भज प्रीतिं च हर्षं च त्यजैतां नित्यदैन्यताम्।सीते राक्षसराजेन सह क्रीड यथासुखम्।।5.24.34।।

Transliteration

bhaja prītiṃ ca harṣaṃ ca tyajaitāṃ nityadainyatām |

sīte rākṣasarājena saha krīḍa yathāsukham ||5.24.34||

Translation

O Sita, gib dich der Zuneigung und Freude hin; gib dieses ständige Elend auf. Spiele und genieße nach Belieben in der Gesellschaft des Rākṣasa-Königs.

Word by Word

• jānāsi: you know
• jānāsi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; hetu/niścaya (indeed/for)

• yathā: as; since
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; yathārtha (as/since)

• bhīru: O timid one
• bhīru: Sambodhyā (सम्बोध्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• strīṇām: of women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• yauvanam: youth
• yauvanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yauvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• adhruvam: unstable; impermanent
• adhruvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of "yauvanam"

• yāvat: until
• yāvat: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Avyaya used correlatively with "tāvat"; temporal limit "until"

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive) Ekavacana (enclitic); "of you/your"

• vyatikrāmet: should pass away; would elapse
• vyatikrāmet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kram (धातु) + vi-ati- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tāvat: so long; till then
• tāvat: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Avyaya correlative with "yāvat"; "so long"

• sukham: pleasure
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• avāpnuhi: attain; enjoy
• avāpnuhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु) + ava- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

'O Sita! offer your love to Ravana, adore him and be happy. Give up this continuous dejection. Enjoy all pleasures along with the king of demons.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa (implied by 'rākṣasarāja')

FAQs

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

Pleasure is proposed as a substitute for righteousness. The Ramayana’s dharma ethic rejects enjoyment gained through betrayal, coercion, or violation of marriage vows; true happiness must be grounded in satya and rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasīs try to normalize life in captivity by urging Sītā to accept companionship with the rākṣasa-king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fidelity (pativratā-dharma) and inner strength, resisting both fear and temptation.