Valmiki Ramayana 3.49.26 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 26

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

ननु नामाविनीतानां विनेतासि परन्तप।।3.49.26।।कथमेवंविधं पापं न त्वं शासि हि रावणम्।

Transliteration

nanu nāmāvinītānāṁ vinētāsi parantapa || 3.49.26 || katham evaṁvidhaṁ pāpaṁ na tvaṁ śāsi hi rāvaṇam |

Translation

ಹೇ ಪರಂತಪ! ಅವಿನೀತರನ್ನು ಶಿಕ್ಷಿಸುವವನೆಂದು ನೀನು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧನು; ಹಾಗಾದರೆ ಇಂತಹ ಪಾಪಿಯಾದ ರಾವಣನನ್ನು ನೀನು ಏಕೆ ದಂಡಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ?

Word by Word

• ननु: surely
• ननु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ननु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/आक्षेप-अव्यय (indeed?/surely)

• नाम: indeed
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अविनीतानाम्: of the arrogant
• अविनीतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविनीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of the undisciplined/arrogant’

• विनेता: a chastiser
• विनेता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनेता (प्रातिपदिक; √नी caus. agent noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate nominative

• असि: you are
• असि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• परन्तप: O scorcher of foes
• परन्तप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परन्तप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (परान् तपति)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (how?)

• एवंविधम्: such a
• एवंविधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवं + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एवं विधः)

• पापम्: the sinner
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here ‘evil man/sinner’ as object

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun ‘you’

• शासि: punish / rule
• शासि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed/for)

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

O scorcher of enemies! you are the chastiser of the haughty. Why do you not punish such a sinner like Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma demands that arrogance and wrongdoing be restrained; a protector/discipliner must oppose adharma, especially when an innocent is harmed.

What is the narrative situation?

During Sītā’s abduction, she appeals to Jatāyu—renowned for valor—to act against Rāvaṇa and stop the crime.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and protective duty: the expectation that the strong (or righteous) intervene to punish blatant wrongdoing.