Valmiki Ramayana 5.21.24: Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 24

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Spoken by Sita to RavanaSetting: Laṅkā (Rāvaṇa’s domain)

Devanagari script

रामस्य धनुषः शब्दं श्रोष्यसि त्वं महास्वनम् ॥२४॥

शतक्रतुविसृष्टस्य निर्घोषमशनेरिव ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 5.21.24

Transliteration

rāmasya dhanuṣaḥ śabdaṃ śroṣyasi tvaṃ mahā-svanam ||24||

śatakratu-visṛṣṭasya nirghoṣam aśaner iva |

Translation

तू राम के धनुष की आवाज़ सुनोगे। बड़ी ज़ोर की आवाज़ होगी, जैसे इंद्र की बिजली गिर रही हो।

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Word by Word

• रामस्य: of Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)

• धनुषः: of the bow
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)

• शब्दम्: sound
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रोष्यसि: you will hear
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• त्वम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• महास्वनम्: great-sounding, loud
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् स्वनः)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• शतक्रतुविसृष्टस्य: of that released by Indra
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतक्रतु + विसृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शतक्रतुना विसृष्टस्य = released by Indra)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• निर्घोषम्: roar, rumble
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Upamana (उपमान-प्रयुक्त)

• अशनेः: of the thunderbolt
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• इव: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-निपात (particle of comparison)
• Role: Upama (उपमा)

Sandhi Notes

• निर्घोषमशनेरिव = निर्घोषम् + अशनेः + इव (m + a → ma)

Context

"You will hear the terrible twang of Rama's bow resembling the rumble of the thunderbolt released by Indra who performed a hundred yajnas.

The teaching

Before dharma’s strike falls, its warning resounds; heed the sign and choose peace through right action.

Duties in tension

• Rāma’s kṣatriya duty to wage war for justice vs preference for peace (implied)
• Rāvaṇa’s choice between restitution and war

Ethical theme

Dharma-yuddha / nīti

How it resolves

Omen-like warning preceding righteous battle

Devotion and practice

Contemplation on divine protection manifesting as strength; encourages courage aligned with dharma.

Deity praised

Rāma (implicitly glorified through Indra-simile)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Thunderous, martial, foreboding

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Divine comparison
• Heroic warning

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Śatakratu (Indra)
• Dhanus (bow)

FAQs

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

Righteous force (dharma-yuddha) becomes inevitable against persistent injustice; warning is given before punishment, aligning power with moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā foretells the coming of Rāma’s assault on Laṅkā, using cosmic imagery to impress upon Rāvaṇa the certainty of consequences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous might—strength restrained by dharma, yet overwhelming when justice demands action.