Valmiki Ramayana 3.49.16 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 16

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं वाक्यं प्रियार्हां प्रियवादिनीम्।अभिगम्य सुदुष्टात्मा राक्षसः काममोहितः।।3.49.16।।जग्राह रावणस्सीतां बुधः खे रोहिणीमिव।

Transliteration

ity uktvā maithilīṃ vākyaṃ priyārhāṃ priyavādinīm | abhigamya suduṣṭātmā rākṣasaḥ kāmamohitaḥ || jagrāha rāvaṇaḥ sītāṃ budhaḥ khe rohiṇīm iva ||

Translation

Après avoir ainsi parlé à Maithilī, douce de parole et digne d’amour, le rākṣasa à l’âme perverse, égaré par le désir, s’approcha et saisit Sītā, comme Budha (Mercure) dans le ciel saisit Rohiṇī.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having said’

• मैथिलीम्: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिलीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रियार्हाम्: worthy of affection/pity
• प्रियार्हाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय-अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘प्रियस्य अर्हा’/‘प्रियम् अर्हति’ (worthy of love/pity)

• प्रियवादिनीम्: sweet-speaking
• प्रियवादिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय-वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); घटकाः: प्रिय (pleasant) + वादिन् (speaker)

• अभिगम्य: approaching
• अभिगम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having approached’

• सुदुष्टात्मा: one of very wicked nature
• सुदुष्टात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-दुष्ट-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (possessive), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘यस्य आत्मा सुदुष्टः’

• राक्षसः: the demon
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• काममोहितः: deluded by desire
• काममोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-मोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative), भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त; √मुह्), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘कामेन मोहितः’

• जग्राह: seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• बुधः: Mercury (planet)
• बुधः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपमान (standard of comparison)

• खे: in the sky
• खे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• रोहिणीम्: Rohini (star)
• रोहिणीम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); उपमेय-तुल्य (object compared)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

Context

O stupid woman! you think you are very wise. What is there in Rama so that you are attached to him ? He has left the kingdom and his kith and kin due to the words of a woman. He has not accomplished anything (in life). He has a limited life span and now lives in this forest haunted by wild animals.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Maithilī)
• Budha (Mercury)
• Rohiṇī (astral entity)

FAQs

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

The verse marks a decisive breach of dharma: lust-driven violence and abduction. Dharma upholds protection of the vulnerable and respect for consent; adharma violates both.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, after persuasion and insult, turns to force and physically seizes Sītā—initiating the central crisis that drives the remainder of the epic.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dignity and innocence are foregrounded (“sweet-speaking, worthy of love”), heightening the moral gravity of Rāvaṇa’s act and the dharmic imperative to restore justice.