Shloka 17

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

दद्यान्न प्रतिगृह्णीयात्सत्यं ब्रूयान्न चानृतम्।।3.47.17।।एतद्ब्राह्मण रामस्य ध्रृवं व्रतमनुत्तमम्।

Transliteration

dadyān na pratigṛhṇīyāt satyaṃ brūyān na cānṛtam ||3.47.17|| etad brāhmaṇa rāmasya dhṛvaṃ vratam anuttamam |

Translation

ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ, ഇതാണ് രാമന്റെ അചഞ്ചലവും അനുത്തമവും ആയ വ്രതം: നൽകണം, എന്നാൽ സ്വീകരിക്കരുത്; സത്യം പറയണം, ഒരിക്കലും അസത്യം അല്ല.

Word by Word

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• प्रतिगृह्णीयात्: should accept/receive
• प्रतिगृह्णीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-grah (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• ब्रूयात्: should speak
• ब्रूयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• अनृतम्: untruth, falsehood
• अनृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्राह्मण: O brahmin
• ब्राह्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: firm, certain
• ध्रुवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of व्रतम्)

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of व्रतम्)

Context

Son to the second mother of Rama, his mighty half-brother, by name, Lakshmana, a tiger among men and a slayer of enemies in battle is a companion to him.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• brahmin (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

Satya as a supreme vow, paired with dāna (giving): righteousness is defined as generosity without grasping, and speech anchored in truth without deviation.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā explains Rāma’s moral code to the visiting ‘brahmin,’ emphasizing his unwavering commitment to truth and giving.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s integrity: truthfulness (satya) and non-grasping generosity (dāna without taking).