Shloka 24

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

स त्वं नाम च गोत्रञ्च कुलं चाचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः।एकश्च दण्डकारण्ये किमर्थं चरसि द्विज।।3.47.24।।

Transliteration

sa tvaṃ nāma ca gotraṃ ca kulaṃ cācakṣva tattvataḥ | ekaś ca daṇḍakāraṇye kimarthaṃ carasi dvija ||

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട്, ഹേ ദ്വിജാ! നിന്റെ നാമവും ഗോത്രവും കുലവും സത്യമായി പറയുക; ഈ ദണ്ഡകാരണ്യത്തിൽ നീ ഒറ്റയ്ക്കായി എന്തു ലക്ഷ്യത്തോടെ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു?

Word by Word

एवम्thus

बृवन्त्याम्while (she) was speaking

सीतायाम्when Sita (was)

रामपत्न्याम्(in) Rama's wife

महाबलःmighty, very strong

प्रत्युवाचreplied

उत्तरम्answer, reply

तीव्रम्harsh, intense

रावणःRavana

राक्षसाधिपःlord of the rakshasas

Context

O brahmin, tell me your name, your gotra and your pedigree. And the purpose for which you are going about all alone in this Dandaka forest

Characters & Entities

Sītā

Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)

Rāvaṇa (implicit, as the addressed 'dvija')

FAQs

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

Satya and discernment: Sītā requests truthful identity and purpose, reflecting dharmic caution—proper conduct includes verifying claims, especially in vulnerable settings.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, sensing something unusual, asks the lone ‘brahmin’ to state his identity and why he is alone in the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s prudence and commitment to truth-seeking (tattvataḥ), aligned with righteous social etiquette.