Shloka 5.22.27

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः (Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply)

Devanagari script

ताभ्यां स परिपूर्णाभ्यां भुजाभ्यां राक्षसेश्वरः।शुशुभेऽचलसङ्काशः शृङ्गाभ्यामिव मन्दरः।।।।

Transliteration

tābhyāṁ sa paripūrṇābhyāṁ bhujābhyāṁ rākṣaseśvaraḥ | śuśubhe ’calasaṅkāśaḥ śṛṅgābhyām iva mandaraḥ ||

Translation

With those two full, mighty arms, the lord of the rākṣasas shone like a mountain—like Mandara with its two peaks.

Context

The lord of demons shone like mount Mandara, both his long two arms like two mountain peaks.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Mount Mandara
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Physical might is not dharma; the epic repeatedly separates strength from righteousness to teach ethical evaluation beyond appearances.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator heightens Rāvaṇa’s formidable presence by likening his arms to mountain peaks.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka): readers are guided to admire poetic grandeur yet judge by dharmic standards.