Shloka 23

सरमायाḥ सीतासान्त्वनम् तथा रावणनिश्चयश्रवणम्

Saarana Consoles Sita and Reports Ravana’s Resolve

Devanagari script

एवंसमन्त्रिवृद्धैश्चाविद्धेनबहुभाषितः ।नत्वामुत्पनिहतेमोक्तुमर्थमर्थपरोयथा ।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ samantrivṛddhaiś cāviddhena bahubhāṣitaḥ | na tvām utpanihate moktum artham arthaparo yathā ||

Translation

Obwohl die betagten Minister und Aviddha ihn so lange ermahnten, ist er doch nicht bereit, dich freizulassen—wie ein Geizhals, der an seinem gehorteten Reichtum hängt.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• समन्त्रिवृद्धैः: by the aged ministers
• समन्त्रिवृद्धैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + मन्त्रिवृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: मन्त्रिणां वृद्धाः (aged ministers)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक

• अविद्धेन: by Aviddha
• अविद्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• बहुभाषितः: much addressed/advised
• बहुभाषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + भाषित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) from भाष्/भाष (to speak) with उपसर्ग-रहित; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: बहु भाषितः (much-spoken-to / much-advised)

• न: not
• न: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्पन्निहते: (textually uncertain) in the arisen/struck situation
• उत्पन्निहते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पन्नि-हते (पाठभेद/दुर्लभपदम्)
• Form: सप्तमी/सम्बोधन-सम्भाव्य; पाठदोष/सन्धि-भेद सम्भवः। सम्भाव्य विग्रह: उत्पन्ने निहते (when the occasion has arisen / when slain) इत्यादि; निश्चितरूपेण व्याकरणनिर्णयः पाठान्तरं विना कठिनः

• मोक्तुम्: to release
• मोक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive): "to release"

• अर्थम्: wealth, money
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमायाम् (as object of comparison)

• अर्थपरः: greedy for wealth
• अर्थपरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अर्थे परः (devoted to wealth)

• यथा: like, as
• यथा: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक/प्रकारवाचक (as, like)

Context

"Even though his mother and aged minister counselled Ravana, he is like a miser holding on treasure not inclined to set you free."

Characters & Entities

• Saramā
• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Aviddha

FAQs

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

Adharma rooted in greed: when attachment and possessiveness dominate, even sound counsel and truth fail to move the wrongdoer.

What is the narrative situation?

Saramā explains that despite repeated advice from elders, Rāvaṇa refuses to free Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The negative trait is highlighted—Rāvaṇa’s grasping attachment—serving as a moral warning against lobha (greed).