Shloka 35

Sāvitrī–Satyavān Vivāha: Kanyāpradāna and Āśrama-Śīla (सावित्री-सत्यवान्विवाहः)

Devanagari script

सीते राक्षसराजो<हं रावणो नाम विश्रुतः । मम लड्कापुरी नाम्ना रम्या पारे महोदथे:,'सीते! मैं राक्षसोंका राजा हूँ। मेरा 'रावण” नाम सर्वत्र विख्यात है। समुद्रके पार बसी हुई रमणीय लंकापुरी मेरी राजधानी है

Transliteration

sīte rākṣasarājo 'haṃ rāvaṇo nāma viśrutaḥ | mama laṅkāpurī nāmnā ramyā pāre mahodadheḥ ||

Translation

ラーヴァナはシーターに言った。「シーターよ、我は羅刹の王、名をラーヴァナといい、遍く世に知られている。大海の彼方には、麗しき都ランカーがある—それこそ我が王都である。」

Word by Word

सीतेO Sita

राक्षसराजःking of the Rakshasas

अहम्I

रावणःRavana

नामby name / named

विश्रुतःwell-known, renowned

ममof me / my

लङ्कापुरीthe city of Lanka

नाम्नाby the name (of)

रम्याbeautiful, delightful

पारेon the far side

महोदधेःof the great ocean

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sītā

Rāvaṇa

Rākṣasas

Laṅkā

Mahodadhi (the great ocean)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how adharma often announces itself through pride and coercive self-glorification. Rāvaṇa’s boast contrasts with the dharmic ideal of restraint and respect for others’ autonomy, preparing the moral frame in which Sītā’s unwavering righteousness stands out.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Mārkaṇḍeya’s retelling of the Rāmāyaṇa episode within the Mahābhārata, Rāvaṇa addresses Sītā after taking her, declaring his identity as the famed king of the Rākṣasas and describing Laṅkā, his capital beyond the ocean, as part of his attempt to overawe and persuade her.