Shloka 22

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

शूरेण धनदभ्रात्रा बलैः समुदितेन च।अपोह्य रामं कस्माद्धि दारचौर्यं त्वया कृतम्।।।।

Transliteration

śūreṇa dhanadabhrātrā balaiḥ samuditena ca | apohya rāmaṁ kasmād dhi dāracauryaṁ tvayā kṛtam ||

Translation

Tu es un guerrier, frère de Kubera, et tu es appuyé par une armée ; pourquoi donc as-tu commis le rapt de l’épouse d’autrui, en écartant Rāma ?

Word by Word

• शूरेण: by a hero
• शूरेण: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (instrumental: ‘by/with a hero’)

• धनदभ्रात्रा: by Kubera's brother
• धनदभ्रात्रा: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanada-bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; dhanada + bhrātṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘brother of Dhanada (Kubera)’

• बलैः: with forces
• बलैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• समुदितेन: assembled, equipped
• समुदितेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-udita (कृदन्त; sam-ud-√i (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (agreeing with implied bala/saṃghāta)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• अपोह्य: having bypassed/ignored
• अपोह्य: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√uh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having set aside/avoided’

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कस्मात्: why
• कस्मात्: Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय-प्रयोग (ablative used adverbially: ‘why’)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), कारण/प्रमाण-प्रदर्शक (for/indeed)

• दारचौर्यम्: wife-stealing
• दारचौर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāra-caurya (प्रातिपदिक; dāra + caurya)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘theft of (another's) wife’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तृकरण (agent)

• कृतम्: was done/committed
• कृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘has been done/committed’ (agreeing with dāracauryam)

Context

"You are a (great) warrior and a brother of Kubera. You possess an army. Then why did you abduct Rama's wife by-passing him?"

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Kubera (Dhanada)
• army (bala)

FAQs

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

True valor aligns with dharma: abducting another’s wife is condemned as dāra-caurya, a dishonorable act that violates social and moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā shames Rāvaṇa by contrasting his proclaimed heroism and resources with the cowardly method of abducting her without facing Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and commitment to marital fidelity as a dharmic norm—Sītā asserts the sanctity of marriage and rightful conduct.