Shloka 10

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

मम भर्तामहातेजा वयसा पञ्चविंशकः।।3.47.10।।अष्टादश हि वर्षाणि मम जन्मनि गण्यते।

Transliteration

mama bhartā mahātejā vayasā pañcaviṃśakaḥ |

aṣṭādaśa hi varṣāṇi mama janmani gaṇyate ||

Translation

എന്റെ ഭർത്താവ് മഹാതേജസ്സുള്ളവൻ; അവന്റെ വയസ് ഇരുപത്തിയഞ്ച്. എനിക്കാകട്ടെ, ജനിച്ചതുമുതൽ പതിനെട്ടു വർഷം എണ്ണപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महातेजाः: of great splendour
• महातेजाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: महत् तेजः यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भर्ता इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वयसा: by age
• वयसा: करण (Karaṇa/Measure/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पञ्चविंशकः: twenty-five (years old)
• पञ्चविंशकः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Numerical): पञ्चविंशतिः (25) इति संख्या; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भर्ता इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अष्टादश: eighteen
• अष्टादश: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Numerical): 18; नपुंसकलिङ्गे अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (as numeral)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतौ अव्यय (indeed/for)

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: कर्म (Karma/Object of counting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• जन्मनि: from (my) birth / at (my) birth (i.e., since birth)
• जन्मनि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• गण्यते: is counted
• गण्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गण् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

Context

My husband who was very bold was twentyfive years and I had completed eighteen years since my birth.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma (as husband)
• Rāvaṇa (implied as questioner)

FAQs

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

Satya (truthful speech) is practiced in ordinary description; Sītā answers plainly, reflecting sincerity even when the listener is unworthy.

What is the narrative situation?

In response to the mendicant’s questioning, Sītā provides personal details about herself and her husband.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s straightforwardness and trustful honesty are emphasized, underscoring her dharmic nature in conversation.