Shloka 31

Devanagari script

तत्रैनां तर्जनैर्घोरैः पुनस्सान्त्वैश्च मैथिलीम्।आनयध्वं वशं सर्वा वन्यां गजवधूमिव।।।।

Transliteration

tatraināṃ tarjanair ghoraiḥ punaḥ sāntvaiś ca maithilīm |

ānayadhvaṃ vaśaṃ sarvā vanyāṃ gajavadhūm iva ||

Translation

そこで汝ら皆、マイティリーを従わせよ。恐ろしき脅しによって、また改めて優しき慰めによって――野の雌象を馴らすがごとく。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक अव्यय/adverb of place)

• एनाम्: her (this woman)
• एनाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तर्जनैः: with threats
• तर्जनैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• घोरैः: terrible
• घोरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तर्जनैः)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• सान्त्वैः: with soothing words
• सान्त्वैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination particle)

• मैथिलीम्: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिलीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; संज्ञा (proper noun)

• आनयध्वम्: bring (you all)
• आनयध्वम्: क्रिया (Verb); आज्ञा (imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थक/imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वशम्: under control
• वशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; goal state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• सर्वाः: all (of you)
• सर्वाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश (pronominal adjective used substantively)

• वन्याम्: wild
• वन्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying एनाम्/मैथिलीम्)

• गजवधूम्: a female elephant
• गजवधूम्: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (उपमान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गजस्य वधूः)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक (Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमावाचक/particle of comparison)

Context

There you all bring her under control through forcing and cajoling as one would do to tame a wild she-elephant.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Rākṣasīs

FAQs

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

The verse highlights adharma: coercion and manipulation used to subdue an innocent person. Dharma rejects domination through fear or deceit and upholds respect for another’s autonomy and consent.

What is the narrative situation?

After abducting Sītā, Rāvaṇa instructs the demonesses to restrain her and force her into submission using alternating threats and soothing persuasion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively, it emphasizes the absence of virtue in Rāvaṇa—his reliance on intimidation and manipulation rather than righteous conduct.