Shloka 10

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply

Devanagari script

तां तर्ज्यमानां सम्प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण जानकीम्।देवगन्धर्वकन्यास्ता विषेदुर्विकृतेक्षणाः।।।।

Transliteration

tāṃ tarjyamānāṃ samprekṣya rākṣasendreṇa jānakīm |

devagandharvakanyās tā viṣedur vikṛtekṣaṇāḥ ||

Translation

ರಾಕ್ಷಸೇಂದ್ರನಿಂದ ಬೆದರಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಜಾನಕಿಯನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ದೇವ-ಗಂಧರ್ವಕನ್ಯೆಯರು ದುಃಖದಿಂದ ವಿಷಾದಿಸಿದರು; ವ್ಯಾಕುಲತೆಯಿಂದ ಅವರ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳು ಅಶಾಂತವಾದವು.

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; refers to Jānakīm/Sītā

• tarjyamānām: being threatened
• tarjyamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarjyamāna (कृदन्त; √tarj धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), कर्मणि प्रयोग; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifying tām

• samprekṣya: having seen
• samprekṣya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prekṣ (धातु) with sam- + ktvā
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); 'having observed'

• rākṣasa-indreṇa: by the demon-king
• rākṣasa-indreṇa: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष = rākṣasānām indraḥ

• jānakīm: Janaki
• jānakīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; apposition to tām

• deva-gandharva-kanyāḥ: daughters of gods and gandharvas
• deva-gandharva-kanyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; (deva-gandharvayoḥ kanyāḥ)

• tāḥ: those (women)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; refers to kanyāḥ

• viṣeduḥ: became despondent
• viṣeduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ṣad (धातु) with vi-
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• vikṛta-īkṣaṇāḥ: with distressed eyes
• vikṛta-īkṣaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि = 'those whose eyes are distorted/anguished'

Context

Observing Janaki, threatened by the demon king the daughters of gods and gandharvas shed tears with distressful eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Jānakī (Sītā)
• Rākṣasendra (Rāvaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected through compassion and moral sensitivity: righteous beings (even as onlookers) respond with grief when adharma—threatening a virtuous woman—is committed.

What is the narrative situation?

In Aśoka-vana, Rāvaṇa threatens Sītā; celestial maidens present there witness it and become sorrowful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and moral discernment in the onlookers—recognizing wrongdoing and reacting with sincere distress.