Shloka 42

Sāvitrī–Satyavān Vivāha: Kanyāpradāna and Āśrama-Śīla (सावित्री-सत्यवान्विवाहः)

Devanagari script

तामभिद्रुत्य सुश्रोणी रावण: प्रत्यषेधयत्‌ । भर्त्सयित्वा तु रूक्षेण स्वरेण गतचेतनाम्‌,इसी समय रावणने दौड़कर उनका मार्ग रोक लिया और कठोर स्वरसे उन्हें डराना, धमकाना आरम्भ किया। इससे वे भयके मारे मूर्च्छित हो गयीं

Transliteration

tām abhidrutya suśroṇī rāvaṇaḥ pratyaṣedhayat | bhartsayitvā tu rūkṣeṇa svareṇa gatacetanām ||

Translation

Dijo Mārkaṇḍeya: Rāvaṇa corrió hacia aquella dama de hermosas caderas y le cerró el paso. Luego, con voz áspera, comenzó a amenazarla e intimidarla; vencida por el miedo, perdió el sentido. El episodio subraya que la coacción y el terror son adharma: violencia de palabra y de intención que vulnera la seguridad y la dignidad de una mujer.

Word by Word

ताम्her

अभिद्रुत्यhaving run up to / rushing towards

सुश्रोणीthe fair-hipped woman

रावणःRavana

प्रत्यषेधयत्stopped / obstructed

भर्त्सयित्वाhaving threatened / scolded

तुbut / and then

रूक्षेणwith a harsh

स्वरेणvoice / tone

गतचेतनाम्one who had lost consciousness

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Markandeya

Ravana

the woman addressed as Suśroṇī (Sita in context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights adharma in the form of coercion and intimidation: harsh speech and threats used to overpower the vulnerable are ethically condemned, especially when directed against a woman’s autonomy and safety.

What is happening in the narrative?

Rāvaṇa runs up to the woman and blocks her way, then threatens her in a harsh tone; she becomes terrified and faints (loses consciousness).