Shloka 3.47.50

सीतारावणसंवादः — Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

तां वेपमानामुपलक्ष्य सीतां स रावणो मृत्युसमप्रभावः।कुलं बलं नाम च कर्म चात्मनः समाचचक्षे भयकारणार्थम्।।3.47.50।।

Transliteration

tāṃ vepamānām upalakṣya sītāṃ sa rāvaṇo mṛtyu-samaprabhāvaḥ | kulaṃ balaṃ nāma ca karma cātmanaḥ samācacakṣe bhaya-kāraṇārtham || 3.47.50 ||

Translation

Seeing Sītā trembling, Rāvaṇa—terrible as Death itself—recounted his lineage, power, name, and deeds, intending to become a cause of fear.

Context

Beholding Sita who was trembling, Ravana, powerful like death, started telling about himself, his clan, his strength and his deeds to instil more fear in her.ittayārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē saptacatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortyseventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Death (Mṛtyu, as simile)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates adharma by contrast: using power and reputation to terrorize the vulnerable violates righteousness and truth-centered conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, seeing Sītā shaken, attempts psychological domination by boasting of his background and might.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively framed: Rāvaṇa’s coercive pride; implicitly, Sītā’s moral resistance is set against intimidation.