Shloka 1

Devanagari script

रावणेन तु वैदेही तदा पृष्टा जिहीर्षता।परिव्राजकरूपेण शशंसात्मानमात्मना।।3.47.1।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇena tu vaidehī tadā pṛṣṭā jihīrṣatā |

parivrājakarūpeṇa śaśaṃsātmānam ātmanā ||

Translation

Alors Vaidehī, interrogée par Rāvaṇa —qui, sous l’apparence d’un mendiant errant, voulait l’enlever— lui raconta qui elle était.

Word by Word

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Virodha (विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/पक्षान्तरे निपात

• वैदेही: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• पृष्टा: having been asked
• पृष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वैदेह्याः विशेषणम्

• जिहीर्षता: by one wishing to abduct
• जिहीर्षता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: सन्-इच्छार्थक (desiderative) कृदन्त, तृतीया एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग; जिहीर्षु (wishing to take away) इत्यस्य तृतीया; रावणस्य विशेषणम्

• परिव्राजकरूपेण: in the form of a mendicant
• परिव्राजकरूपेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिव्राजक + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परिव्राजकस्य रूपम्)

• शशंस: told/declared
• शशंस: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आत्मानम्: herself (about herself)
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• आत्मना: by herself
• आत्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; स्वयम्-अर्थे (by herself)

Context

Then Ravana in the guise of a mendicant with crooked intention to abduct her, asked Vaidehi to tell him about herself.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Vaidehī)

FAQs

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

Sītā’s openness reflects satya and proper conduct toward an apparent ascetic; the verse also warns that adharma may exploit dharmic trust.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, disguised as a parivrājaka, questions Sītā; she begins to identify herself and her circumstances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s truthfulness and courteous responsiveness to a guest-like figure are emphasized.