Valmiki Ramayana 3.9.16 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 16

सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा

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

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियाणामपि धनुर्हुताशस्येन्धनानि च।।3.9.16।।समीपतस्स्थितं तेजो बलमुच्छ्रयते भृशम्।

Transliteration

kṣatriyāṇām api dhanur hutāśasyendhanāni ca ||3.9.16||

samīpatas sthitaṃ tejo balam ucchrayate bhṛśam |

Translation

たとえクシャトリヤであっても、弓は火にくべる薪のようなもの。手近にあれば、熱情と力を大いに燃え立たせます。

Word by Word

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

• kila: it is said
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: श्रुत्यर्थक/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक अव्यय (it is said)

• mahā-bāho: O mighty-armed one
• mahā-bāho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• tapasvī: an ascetic
• tapasvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• satyavāk: truth-speaking
• satyavāk: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (satyaṃ vāk yasya = truthful-speaking); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'tapasvī' इति विशेषणम्

• śuciḥ: pure
• śuciḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'tapasvī' इति विशेषणम्

• kasmiṃścit: in some
• kasmiṃścit: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kasmin (प्रातिपदिक) + cit (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितप्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'in some'

• abhavat: was / lived
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• puṇye: sacred
• puṇye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'vane' इति विशेषणम्

• vane: in a forest
• vane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• rata-mṛga-dvije: where animals and birds roam
• rata-mṛga-dvije: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (mṛgāḥ dvijāś ca ratāḥ yasmin = where animals and birds are delighted/abundant); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'vane' इति विशेषणम्

Context

Of course, you will go to the forest with your brother, holding the bow and arrows. Release the arrows when you see the forest-rangers.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Kṣatriya (warrior class)
• Bow (dhanuḥ)
• Fire (hutāśa)

FAQs

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

Dharma emphasizes mastery over impulses: proximity to power (weapons) can inflame aggression, so a righteous person must practice restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā explains why weapons can be morally dangerous—like fuel feeding fire—setting up her warning against needless conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The ideal of kṣatriya self-governance: true strength includes control, not merely the capacity to strike.