Shloka 48

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्सहस्राक्षसमप्रभावे रामे स्थिते कार्मुकबाणपाणौ।हृतापि तेहं न जरां गमिष्ये वज्रं यथा मक्षिकयावगीर्णम्।।3.47.48।।

Transliteration

tasmin sahasrākṣa-samaprabhāve rāme sthite kārmuka-bāṇa-pāṇau | hṛtāpi te ’haṃ na jarāṃ gamiṣye vajraṃ yathā makṣikayāvagīrṇam || 3.47.48 ||

Translation

જ્યાં સુધી સહસ્રાક્ષ ઇન્દ્ર સમ પ્રભાવશાળી રામ ધનુષ્ય અને બાણ હાથમાં લઈને અડગ ઊભા છે, ત્યાં સુધી હું ભલે અપહૃત થાઉં, તારા કારણે ક્ષીણ નહીં થાઉં—જેમ હીરું માખીએ ગળી લીધું હોય તો પણ નાશ પામતું નથી.

Word by Word

• tasmin: when/in him
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/काल-स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; 'in/when that (one)'

• sahasra-akṣa-sama-prabhāvē: in (Rāma) equal in might to Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• sahasra-akṣa-sama-prabhāvē: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra-akṣa + sama + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with upamā: sahasrākṣa (Indra) + sama; Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; Masculine; qualifying 'rāmē'

• rāmē: in/with Rāma (being present)
• rāmē: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• sthitē: standing, being stationed
• sthitē: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धाातु) → sthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular, Masculine; absolute-locative sense with 'rāmē' = 'when Rāma is standing/being there'

• kārmuka-bāṇa-pāṇau: with bow and arrows in hand
• kārmuka-bāṇa-pāṇau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārmuka + bāṇa + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (instrumental/possessive sense): 'having bow-and-arrow in hand'; Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular, Masculine; qualifying 'rāmē'

• hṛtā: abducted
• hṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) → hṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agrees with implied 'aham (Sītā)'

• api: even if
• api: Sambandha-marker (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive particle (अपि = even though)

• te: for you, to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• jarām: old age, decay
• jarām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• gamiṣyē: I shall go/come to (i.e., become subject to)
• gamiṣyē: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Ātmanepada, First person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vajram: a thunderbolt/diamond
• vajram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; upamā-dṛṣṭānta subject with 'yathā'

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (उपमा)

• makṣikayā: by a fly
• makṣikayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makṣikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• avagīrṇam: swallowed
• avagīrṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + gṝ (धातु) → avagīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; here Nominative agreeing with 'vajram'

Context

So long Rama, equal in prowess to the thousand-eyed Indra stands with bow and arrows in hand, I will not, although abducted, wither away like a diamond gulped by an insect (fly).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• bow (kārmuka)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• vajra (diamond/adamant)

FAQs

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

Sītā upholds pativratā-dharma and satya: unwavering fidelity and truthfulness, refusing to be morally broken even under coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is attempting to intimidate and entice Sītā after abducting her; she responds with firm confidence in Rāma’s power and her own integrity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast courage and chastity (niṣṭhā/śīla): Sītā declares she will not ‘wither’ or yield to Rāvaṇa despite danger.