Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 5

राक्षसी-भर्त्सना

The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā

Devanagari script

ततस्त्वेकजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।आमन्त्य्र क्रोधाताम्राक्षी सीतां करतलोदरीम्।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tv ekajaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyam abravīt |

āmन्त्र्य krodhātāmrākṣī sītāṃ karatalodarīm ||

Translation

Alors la rākṣasī nommée Ekajaṭā prit la parole ; ayant interpellé Sītā, les yeux rougis de colère, elle s’adressa à elle—Ekajaṭā, au ventre large comme une paume.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम-वाचक

• tu: indeed/then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• ekajaṭā: Ekajaṭā
• ekajaṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: एका जटā यस्याः = one-braided/with a single matted lock (name)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः, अव्यय; नाम-निर्देशक (appellative particle: 'by name/called')

• rākṣasī: demoness
• rākṣasī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to ekajaṭā

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थ: said/spoke

• āmantrya: having addressed
• āmantrya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√mantr (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), अर्थ: having addressed/called

• krodha-tāmrākṣī: red-eyed with anger
• krodha-tāmrākṣī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rākṣasī
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास: क्रोधेन ताम्रे अक्षिणी यस्याः = whose eyes are copper-red with anger

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म) of āmantrya
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• karatala-udarīm: (you) with a palm-like belly
• karatala-udarīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of sītām (addressed with epithet in speech-context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karatala (प्रातिपदik) + udarī (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: करतल-सदृशम् उदरं यस्याः = having a belly like a palm (epithet)

Context

Then Ekajata, a she-demon of hideous looks, eyes red with anger and a belly of the size of the palm said to Sita:

Characters & Entities

• Ekajaṭā
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma rejects coercion and intimidation in matters of consent and marriage; anger-driven speech here models adharma—attempting to bend another’s will through fear.

What is the narrative situation?

A specific ogress, Ekajaṭā, steps forward to speak directly to Sītā as the pressure campaign intensifies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s forbearance (kṣānti) is foregrounded by contrast with the rākṣasī’s anger and harsh demeanor.