Valmiki Ramayana 5.21.9: Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 9

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

इह सन्तो न वा सन्ति सतो वा नानुवर्तसे।।।।तथाहि विपरीता ते बुद्धिराचारवर्जिता।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 5.21.9

Transliteration

iha santo na vā santi sato vā nānuvartase |

tathā hi viparītā te buddhir ācāra-varjitā ||

Translation

Apakah di sini tidak ada orang-orang baik? Atau meski ada, engkau tidak meneladani mereka? Sebab buddhi-mu telah berbalik sesat, tercerabut dari tata laku yang benar.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: Desha (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here)

• सन्तः: good people/saints
• सन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle: or)

• सन्ति: are
• सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सतः: of the good (people)
• सतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th, Genitive), एकवचन (collective sense)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (or)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अनुवर्तसे: you follow
• अनुवर्तसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Hetu-suchaka (हेतुसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (for/indeed)

• विपरीता: perverse/contrary
• विपरीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying बुद्धिः)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th, Genitive), एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: mind/intellect
• बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• आचार-वर्जिता: devoid of proper conduct
• आचार-वर्जिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—'आचारात् वर्जिता' (devoid of right conduct)

Context

"I cannot be your lawful wife obtainable by your personal efforts. I am a chaste woman married to another man. (Being a king) examine the dharma honestly and adopt a pious way of life.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Seeking and heeding wise counsel is part of dharma; ignoring the virtuous corrupts judgment and leads to adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā challenges Rāvaṇa’s moral isolation—either he lacks good advisors or refuses to listen to them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral exhortation (hitopadeśa)—Sītā attempts to reform even an aggressor through truth.