Shloka 1

Devanagari script

सा तथोक्ता तु वैदेही निर्भया शोककर्शिता।तृणमन्तरतः कृत्वा रावणं प्रत्यभाषत।।।।

Transliteration

sā tathoktā tu vaidehī nirbhayā śokakarśitā |

tṛṇam antarataḥ kṛtvā rāvaṇaṃ pratyabhāṣata ||

Translation

ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ವೈದೇಹಿ, ಶೋಕದಿಂದ ಕ್ಷೀಣಳಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ನಿರ್ಭಯಳಾಗಿ, ತನ್ನ ಮತ್ತು ರಾವಣನ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಒಂದು ತೃಣವನ್ನು ಇಟ್ಟು, ರಾವಣನಿಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಯಾಗಿ ಮಾತಾಡಿದಳು।

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.)

• tathā-uktā: thus addressed
• tathā-uktā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of sā/vaidehī
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + vac (धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá) used adjectivally; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; avyayībhāva: tathā+uktā = 'thus addressed'

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), adversative/emphatic

• vaidehī: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• vaidehī: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to sā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper noun/epithet of Sītā

• nirbhayā: fearless
• nirbhayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirbhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective in apposition to sā/vaidehī

• śoka-karśitā: worn down by grief
• śoka-karśitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛś (धातु) → karśita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव): śokena karśitā 'wasted by sorrow'; PPP (क्त) used adjectivally; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tṛṇam: a blade of grass
• tṛṇam: Karma (कर्म) of kṛtvā
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• antarataḥ: in between
• antarataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antaratas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb): 'in between/from within the interval'

• kṛtvā: having placed/made
• kṛtvā: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ktvā), 'having done/placed'

• rāvaṇam: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म) of pratyabhāṣata
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; संबोधनार्थे कर्मरूपेण (addressed as object of speech)

• pratyabhāṣata: replied/spoke back
• pratyabhāṣata: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect, past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

Thus addressed by Ravana, Sita, immersed in deep sorrow and unafraid of him, placed a blade of grass between her and him (intending not to speak to him straight) and replied:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Maintaining moral boundaries under threat is dharma. The blade of grass symbolizes refusal, distance, and unwavering fidelity to what is right.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā/palace setting after abduction, Sītā responds to Rāvaṇa’s words, marking a clear boundary before speaking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless chastity and moral clarity (steadfastness to Rāma and to truth), expressed through symbolic action and composed speech.