Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 47

सीताभर्त्सना

The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

Devanagari script

सुरा चानीयतां क्षिप्रं सर्वशोकविनाशिनी।मानुषं मांसमास्वाद्य नृत्यामोऽथ निकुम्भिलाम्।।5.24.47।।

Transliteration

surā cānīyatāṃ kṣipraṃ sarvaśokavināśinī | mānuṣaṃ māṃsam āsvādya nṛtyāmo 'tha nikumbhilām ||5.24.47||

Translation

“Bring wine quickly—the destroyer of all sorrow. After tasting human flesh, then we shall dance at Nikumbhilā.”

Word by Word

• surā: liquor/wine
• surā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• ānīyatām: let it be brought
• ānīyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-nī (आ√नी धातु)
• Form: लोट्, कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'let it be brought'

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipram (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'quickly'

• sarva-śoka-vināśinī: destroyer of all sorrow
• sarva-śoka-vināśinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + vināśinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies surā

• mānuṣam: human
• mānuṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies māṃsam

• māṃsam: flesh/meat
• māṃsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āsvādya: having relished
• āsvādya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-svad (आ√स्वद् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having tasted/relishing'

• nṛtyāmaḥ: we dance
• nṛtyāmaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nṛt (नृत् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): 'then'

• nikumbhilām: Nikumbhilā (place)
• nikumbhilām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikumbhilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; place-name; goal of motion (to Nikumbhilā)

Context

Threatened by the ogresses in that manner, Sita who was like the daughter of a god, cried aloud.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē caturviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Sītā
• Nikumbhilā

FAQs

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

The verse portrays adharma as not only violence but revelry in wrongdoing; Dharma in the Ramayana is inseparable from self-control and reverence for life.

What is the narrative situation?

The ogresses imagine a feast and celebratory dance after harming Sītā, showing their attempt to turn sin into festivity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s purity (śauca) is emphasized by contrast with the rākṣasīs’ indulgence and moral disorder.