Shloka 29

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

लङ्कानाम समुद्रस्य मम मध्ये महापुरी।सागरेण परिक्षिस्ता निविष्टा नगमूर्धनि।।3.47.29।।

Transliteration

laṅkā nāma samudrasya mama madhye mahāpurī | sāgareṇa parikṣiptā niviṣṭā nagamūrdhani ||

Translation

സമുദ്രത്തിന്റെ നടുവിൽ ‘ലങ്കാ’ എന്ന എന്റെ മഹാനഗരം സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്നു; സാഗരം ചുറ്റിപ്പറ്റി, പർവ്വതശിഖരത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതമാണ്.

Word by Word

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: विशेषण-निपात (Naming particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात ‘by name’

• समुद्रस्य: of the sea
• समुद्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• महापुरी: great city
• महापुरी: समानााधिकरण-विशेषण (Apposition to 'लङ्का')
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: महती पुरी; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• सागरेण: by the sea
• सागरेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• परिक्षिप्ता: surrounded
• परिक्षिप्ता: लङ्का/महापुरी इति विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + क्षिप् (धातु); परिक्षिप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• निविष्टा: situated/settled
• निविष्टा: लङ्का/महापुरी इति विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + विश् (धातु); निविष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• नगमूर्धनि: on the mountain-peak
• नगमूर्धनि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नगस्य मूर्धनि; पुल्लिङ्ग (masc), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

Context

My great city called Lanka is on the peak of a mountain surrounded by, and in the middle of, the sea.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Laṅkā
• Samudra/Sāgara (the sea)
• Mountain peak (naga-mūrdhan)

FAQs

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

The verse shows how adharma often advertises itself through grandeur and security; dharma teaches that moral truth outweighs impressive power or splendid locations.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues his persuasion by describing the magnificence and strategic security of his capital, Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, steadfastness to dharma over worldly allure—Sītā’s expected refusal foregrounds integrity over opulence.