Valmiki Ramayana 3.9.10 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 10

सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा

Sita’s Counsel on Dharma and the Peril of Weapon-Association

Devanagari script

प्रतिज्ञातस्त्वया वीर दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्।।3.9.10।।ऋषीणां रक्षणार्थाय वधस्संयति रक्षसाम्।

Transliteration

pratijñātas tvayā vīra daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinām ||3.9.10||

ṛṣīṇāṃ rakṣaṇārthāya vadhaḥ saṃyati rakṣasām |

Translation

勇士よ、あなたはダンダカの森に住まうリシたちを守るため、戦いにおいてラークシャサを討ち滅ぼすと誓われました。

Word by Word

• pratijñātaḥ: promised
• pratijñātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√jñā (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate participle

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental 'by you'

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• daṇḍakāraṇya-vāsinām: of the residents of the Dandaka forest
• daṇḍakāraṇya-vāsinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka-āraṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (daṇḍakāraṇye vāsin = resident in Dandaka-forest); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• ṛṣīṇām: of sages
• ṛṣīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• rakṣaṇa-arthāya: for the purpose of protection
• rakṣaṇa-arthāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन-दत्तिव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (rakṣaṇasya arthaḥ = purpose of protection); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; dative of purpose

• vadhaḥ: killing
• vadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; subject-noun with implied 'asti/abhavat'

• saṃyati: in battle
• saṃyati: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative 'in battle'

• rakṣasām: of demons
• rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

Context

O valiant one, you have promised to kill the demons in the battle, in order to protect the sages residing in the Dandaka forest.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)
• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is the kṣatriya obligation to protect the innocent and uphold the safety of ascetics; a vow made for protection must be carried out.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā reminds Rāma of his declared mission in Daṇḍaka: defending sages by confronting hostile rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s satya (truthfulness) and steadfastness in vows—his promise to protect is treated as binding.