Shloka 4

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

उषित्वा द्वादश समा इक्ष्वाकुणां निवेशने।भुञ्जाना मानुषान्भोगान्सर्वकामसमृद्धिनी।।3.47.4।।

Transliteration

uṣitvā dvādaśa samā ikṣvākūṇāṁ niveśane | bhuñjānā mānuṣān bhogān sarvakāmasamṛddhinī || 3.47.4 ||

Translation

ഇക്ഷ്വാകുക്കളുടെ നിവാസത്തിൽ പന്ത്രണ്ടു വർഷം പാർത്തു, സർവകാമസമൃദ്ധിയായി ഞാൻ മാനുഷഭോഗങ്ങൾ അനുഭവിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• उषित्वा: having lived
• उषित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: वस् (to dwell) → उषित्वा (having dwelt)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, (अव्ययवत्/विशेषणवत्) बहुवचनार्थे; समाः इति विशेषणम्

• समाः: years
• समाः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कालावधि-अत्यन्तसंयोग), बहुवचन

• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: of the Ikshvakus
• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• निवेशने: in the residence
• निवेशने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• भुञ्जाना: enjoying
• भुञ्जाना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि; सीतायाः विशेषणम्

• मानुषान्: human/mortal
• मानुषान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; भोगान् इति विशेषणम्

• भोगान्: enjoyments/pleasures
• भोगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• सर्वकामसमृद्धिनी: fulfilled with all desires
• सर्वकामसमृद्धिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + काम + समृद्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वैः कामैः समृद्धा)

Context

I lived in the house of the Ikshvakus for twelve years and enjoyed all kinds of pleasures meant for mortals.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Ikṣvāku

FAQs

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

Worldly fulfillment is unstable; Dharma ultimately asks for discernment and inner restraint rather than endless enjoyment.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca describes his earlier life of comfort and pleasure to frame his later fear of Rāma and his turn toward caution.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reflective self-awareness—Mārīca signals that experience should mature into discernment and restraint.