Shloka 19

सरमा-सीता संवादः

Saramā Consoles Sītā; Preparations in Laṅkā

Devanagari script

सतांश्रुत्वाविशालाक्षी: प्रवृत्तिंराक्षसाधिपः ।एषमन्त्रयतेसर्वैस्सचिवैस्सहरावणः ।।।।

Transliteration

satāṃ śrutvā viśālākṣi pravṛttiṃ rākṣasādhipaḥ | eṣa mantrayate sarvaiḥ sacivaiḥ saha rāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

大いなる眼のシーターよ、この真実の報せを聞いて、羅刹の王ラーヴァナは、いま諸大臣すべてとともに、いかなる道を取るべきか評議している。

Word by Word

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; 'of the good/true (people)'

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय-कृदन्त (√श्रु, क्त्वा); English: gerund 'having heard'

• विशाल-अक्षीः: (O) large-eyed (lady)
• विशाल-अक्षीः: सम्बोधन/विशेषण (Address/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संबोधन/विशेषण as epithet of Sita: 'she whose eyes are large'

• प्रवृत्तिम्: the news; report
• प्रवृत्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• राक्षस-अधिपः: lord of the Rakshasas
• राक्षस-अधिपः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषः: this (one); he
• एषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मन्त्रयते: consults; deliberates
• मन्त्रयते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; English: 'consults'

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies सचिवैः)

• सचिवैः: with ministers
• सचिवैः: सह (Saha/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Sahakāraka)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (accompaniment marker)

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to राक्षसाधिपः/एषः

Context

"O Broad-eyed Sita! On hearing the news (of Rama crossing) Rakshasa king is holding consultation with ministers about what to do."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasa ministers (saciva)

FAQs

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

The verse points to the duty of rulers to deliberate in counsel; however, dharma depends on choosing a righteous course, not merely consulting.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving news that Rāma has crossed, Rāvaṇa convenes ministerial consultation to decide the next action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Statecraft and deliberation (mantra)—the administrative mechanism of governance is highlighted, even in an unrighteous regime.