Shloka 14

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply

Devanagari script

मां हि धर्मात्मनः पत्नीं शचीमिव शचीपतेः।त्वदन्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रार्थयेन्मनसापि कः।।।।

Transliteration

māṃ hi dharmātmanaḥ patnīṃ śacīm iva śacīpateḥ |tvadanyaḥ triṣu lokeṣu prārthayen manasāpi kaḥ ||

Translation

Pues ¿quién, en los tres mundos, aparte de ti, osaría siquiera en pensamiento desearme a mí, la esposa del justo Rāma, así como Śacī pertenece sólo a su señor, el Śacīpati (Indra)?

Word by Word

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Vakyopapadana (वाक्योपपादन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (हेतौ/निश्चय)

• dharmātmanaḥ: of the righteous-souled (Rama)
• dharmātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharmātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: dharmaḥ ātmā yasya

• patnīm: wife
• patnīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; in apposition to mām

• śacīm: Sachi
• śacīm: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Upama-sambandha (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-सूचक (comparative particle)

• śacīpateḥ: of Sachi's lord (Indra)
• śacīpateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष = śacyāḥ patiḥ (Indra)

• tvat-anyaḥ: anyone other than you
• tvat-anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvat (प्रातिपदिक) + anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = tvat anyaḥ (other than you)

• triṣu: in three
• triṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; numeral qualifying lokeṣu

• lokeṣu: worlds
• lokeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन

• prārthayet: would desire/seek
• prārthayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√arth (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; instrumental 'in mind'

• api: even
• api: Vakyopapadana (वाक्योपपादन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (अपि = even/also)

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; interrogative

Context

"Who in all the three worlds other than you would, even in mind, seek this consort of the righteous self (Sri Rama) like Sachi to Indra? .

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Śacī
• Indra (Śacīpati)
• Three worlds (trailokya)

FAQs

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

Dharma upholds marital exclusivity and respect for another’s spouse; desiring a faithful wife of a righteous man is condemned as adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā asserts her identity as Rāma’s wife and rebukes Rāvaṇa for entertaining even the thought of claiming her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unshakeable fidelity and self-definition through dharma—Sītā frames her honor as inseparable from Rāma and righteousness.