HomeRamayanaAranya KandaSarga 49Shloka 3.49.3
Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 3.49.3

सीताहरणम् — Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

उद्वहेयं भुजाभ्यां तु मेदिनीमम्बरे स्थितः।आपिबेयं समुद्रं च हन्यां मृत्युं रणे स्थितः।।3.49.3।।

udvaheyaṁ bhujābhyāṁ tu medinīm ambare sthitaḥ | āpibeyaṁ samudraṁ ca hanyāṁ mṛtyuṁ raṇe sthitaḥ || 3.49.3 ||

Standing in the sky, I could lift the earth with my arms; I could drink up the ocean; standing in battle, I could even strike down Death.

Standing in the sky, I can lift the earth with my arms. I can drink the oceans. I can kill even the god of death in a combat.

R
Rāvaṇa
S
Sītā
M
Mṛtyu (Death)
S
Samudra (ocean)
M
Medinī (earth)

Power without dharma becomes hubris; the verse illustrates how unchecked pride can fuel adharma, especially when used to intimidate the innocent.

Rāvaṇa, while abducting Sītā, boasts of impossible strength to overawe her and assert dominance.

Negatively emphasized: the vice of arrogance (mada/avinaya), presented as a moral failing that precedes downfall.