Shloka 45

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

यदन्तरं सिंहशृगालयोर्वने यदन्तरं स्यन्दिनिका समुद्रयोः।सुराग्र्य सौवीरकयोर्यदन्तरं तदन्तरं वै तव राघवस्य च।।3.47.45।।

Transliteration

yadantaraṁ siṁhaśṛgālayor vane yadantaraṁ syandinikā samudrayoḥ | surāgrya sauvīrakayor yadantaraṁ tadantaraṁ vai tava rāghavasya ca || 3.47.45 ||

Translation

വനത്തിൽ സിംഹത്തിനും കുറുക്കനും ഇടയിലെത്ര വ്യത്യാസമോ, ചെറിയ കുഴിയ്ക്കും സമുദ്രത്തിനും ഇടയിലെത്ര വ്യത്യാസമോ, ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ സുരയ്ക്കും പുളിച്ച സൗവീരകത്തിനും ഇടയിലെത്ര വ്യത്യാസമോ—അത്ര തന്നെയാണ് നിനക്കും രാഘവനും ഇടയിലെ അന്തരം.

Word by Word

• yad: whatever/that which
• yad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; correlating relative pronoun with tad

• antaram: difference
• antaram: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'difference/interval'

• siṃha-śṛgālayoḥ: between a lion and a jackal
• siṃha-śṛgālayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदik) + śṛgāla (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana; dvandva in genitive dual: 'of lion and jackal'

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• yad: whatever
• yad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• antaram: difference
• antaram: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• syandinikā-samudrayoḥ: between a ditch and the sea
• syandinikā-samudrayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandinikā (प्रातिपदik) + samudra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana; dvandva: syandinikā (ditch/channel) and samudra (sea)

• surāgrya-sauvīrakayoḥ: between fine wine and sour gruel
• surāgrya-sauvīrakayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surāgrya (प्रातिपदik) + sauvīraka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana; dvandva: surāgrya (best wine) and sauvīraka (sour gruel)

• yad: whatever
• yad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• antaram: difference
• antaram: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tad: that
• tad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; correlative pronoun

• antaram: difference
• antaram: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• tava: of you/your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• rāghavasya: of Rāghava
• rāghavasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

Context

The difference between you and Rama is the difference between a jackal and a lion in the forest, between a ditch and the sea, and between sour gruel and the best of wines.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands truthful assessment of strength and right: ignoring reality and righteousness leads to reckless adharma and downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca bluntly contrasts Rāvaṇa with Rāma to deter him from provoking a superior, righteous opponent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s greatness and rightful power; and the virtue of humility in recognizing moral and martial superiority.