Shloka 34

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा।गोकर्णीं हस्तिकर्णीं च लम्बकर्णीमकर्णिकाम्।।5.22.33।।हस्तिपाद्यश्वपाद्यौ च गोपादीं पादचूलिकाम्।एकाक्षीमेकपादीं च पृथुपादीमपादिकाम्।।5.22.34।।अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवामतिमात्रकुचोदरीम्।अतिमात्रास्यनेत्रां च दीर्घजिह्वामजिह्विकाम्।।5.22.35।।अनासिकां सिंहमुखीं गोमुखीं सूकरीमुखीम्।

Transliteration

ekākṣīm eka-karṇāṃ ca karṇa-prāvaraṇāṃ tathā |

go-karṇīṃ hasti-karṇīṃ ca lamba-karṇīm akarṇikām ||

hasti-pādyaśva-pādyau ca go-pādīṃ pāda-cūlikām |

ekākṣīm eka-pādīṃ ca pṛthu-pādīm apādikām ||

ati-mātra-śiro-grīvām ati-mātra-kuca-odarīm |

ati-mātrāsya-netrāṃ ca dīrgha-jihvām ajihvikām ||

anāsikāṃ siṃha-mukhīṃ go-mukhīṃ sūkarī-mukhīm ||

Translation

ત્યાં વિકૃત આકારવાળી રાક્ષસીઓ હતી—કોઈ એક આંખવાળી, કોઈ એક કાનવાળી, કોઈ કાન ઢાંકેલી; કોઈ ગાયના કાન જેવી, કોઈ હાથીના કાન જેવી, કોઈ લાંબા લટકતા કાનવાળી, અને કોઈ કાન વિનાની. કોઈ હાથીના પગ જેવી, કોઈ ઘોડાના ખુરા જેવી, કોઈ ગાયના ખુરા જેવી; કોઈના પગ પર વાળ હતા. કોઈ એક પગવાળી, કોઈ પહોળા પગવાળી, અને કોઈ પગ વિનાની. કોઈનું માથું અને ગળું અતિ વિશાળ, કોઈના સ્તન અને પેટ અતિ મોટાં; કોઈનું મુખ અને નેત્ર અતિ વિશાળ. કોઈ લાંબી જીભવાળી, કોઈ જીભ વિનાની; કોઈ નાક વિનાની—કોઈ સિંહમુખી, કોઈ ગોમુખી, અને કોઈ સૂકરમુખી.

Word by Word

• hasti-pādī: elephant-footed
• hasti-pādī: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hastipādī (प्रातिपदिक; hasti + pāda)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘elephant-footed’

• aśva-pādī: horse-footed
• aśva-pādī: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśvapādī (प्रातिपदिक; aśva + pāda)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘horse-footed’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• go-pādīm: cow-footed
• go-pādīm: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gopādī (प्रातिपदिक; go + pāda)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘cow-footed’

• pāda-cūlikām: with tufts on the feet
• pāda-cūlikām: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pādacūlikā (प्रातिपदिक; pāda + cūlikā)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: pāde cūlikā yasyāḥ = having tufts/hair on the feet

• ekākṣīm: one-eyed
• ekākṣīm: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekākṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• eka-pādīm: one-footed
• eka-pādīm: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekapādī (प्रातिपदिक; eka + pāda)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); one-footed

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• pṛthu-pādīm: broad-footed
• pṛthu-pādīm: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pṛthupādī (प्रातिपदिक; pṛthu + pāda)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); broad-footed

• a-pādikām: footless
• a-pādikām: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apādikā (प्रातिपदिक; a- + pādika)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); privative a-; footless

Context

Of them one had one eye, the other one ear, another with ears covered, one had the ear of a cow, another had ears of an elephant and yet another, long, hanging ears. One had the feet of an elephant, another, hoofs of a horse and still another of a cow. While one had a single foot, another had broad feet and yet another no feet at all. One had a long neck and a large head. One had large breasts and belly. One had a big face and eyes, another had a long tongue and yet another no tongue at all. One had no nose and still another had a lion face and yet another the face of a cow.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasīs (demonesses)

FAQs

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

The verse supports a dharmic contrast: adharma often surrounds itself with terror and intimidation. Dharma stands firm even when confronted by fear-inducing forces.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration describes the dreadful-looking rākṣasīs stationed around Sītā in Aśoka-vana, reinforcing the atmosphere of threat and confinement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadfastness (dhairya) are implied in Sītā’s endurance amid frightening guardians.