Shloka 41

सीताभर्त्सना

The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

Devanagari script

यकृत्प्लीहमथोत्पीडं हृदयं च सबन्धनम्।आन्त्राण्यपि तथा शीर्षं खादेयमिति मे मतिः।।5.24.41।।

Transliteration

yakṛt-plīham athotpīḍaṃ hṛdayaṃ ca sabandhanam | āntrāṇy api tathā śīrṣaṃ khādeyam iti me matiḥ ||5.24.41||

Translation

Mein Gedanke ist, sie zu fressen – Leber und Milz, das Herz mit seinen Verbindungen, die Eingeweide und ebenso den Kopf.

Word by Word

• yakṛt: liver
• yakṛt: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• plīham: spleen
• plīham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plīhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• atha: and/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): 'and/then'

• utpīḍam: the pressed-out mass/pressing out
• utpīḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpīḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): 'and'

• sa-bandhanam: together with its attachments
• sa-bandhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies hṛdayam; 'with bonds/joints/attachments'

• āntrāṇi: intestines
• āntrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āntra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'also/even'

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'likewise/so'

• śīrṣam: head
• śīrṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• khādeyam: fit to be eaten / should be eaten
• khādeyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khād (खाद् धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective: 'to be eaten'

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle): 'thus'

• me: my/of me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• matiḥ: thought/intention
• matiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Next spoke an ogress called Praghasa, saying 'Why not we twist and squeeze the neck of this heartless lady. Why are you sitting idle still? Come on.'

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

It exemplifies adharma through extreme हिंसा (violence) and dehumanization; the Ramayana’s moral universe condemns such cruelty, especially toward the innocent and captive.

What is the narrative situation?

The ogresses escalate their threats, describing dismemberment and cannibalistic intent to terrorize Sītā into submission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s inner steadfastness is tested; her virtue is perseverance under भय (fear) without surrendering her truth.