Shloka 48

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्सहस्राक्षसमप्रभावे रामे स्थिते कार्मुकबाणपाणौ।हृतापि तेहं न जरां गमिष्ये वज्रं यथा मक्षिकयावगीर्णम्।।3.47.48।।

Transliteration

tasmin sahasrākṣa-samaprabhāve rāme sthite kārmuka-bāṇa-pāṇau | hṛtāpi te ’haṃ na jarāṃ gamiṣye vajraṃ yathā makṣikayāvagīrṇam || 3.47.48 ||

Translation

സഹസ്രാക്ഷനായ ഇന്ദ്രനോടു തുല്യമായ പ്രഭാവമുള്ള രാമൻ ധനുസ്സും അമ്പുകളും കൈയിൽ പിടിച്ച് ദൃഢമായി നില്ക്കുന്നിടത്തോളം, ഞാൻ അപഹരിക്കപ്പെട്ടാലും നിന്റെ കാരണത്താൽ ക്ഷയിക്കുകയില്ല; ഈച്ച വിഴുങ്ങിയ വജ്രം നശിക്കാത്തതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• tasmin: when/in him
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/काल-स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; 'in/when that (one)'

• sahasra-akṣa-sama-prabhāvē: in (Rāma) equal in might to Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• sahasra-akṣa-sama-prabhāvē: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra-akṣa + sama + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with upamā: sahasrākṣa (Indra) + sama; Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; Masculine; qualifying 'rāmē'

• rāmē: in/with Rāma (being present)
• rāmē: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• sthitē: standing, being stationed
• sthitē: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धाातु) → sthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular, Masculine; absolute-locative sense with 'rāmē' = 'when Rāma is standing/being there'

• kārmuka-bāṇa-pāṇau: with bow and arrows in hand
• kārmuka-bāṇa-pāṇau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārmuka + bāṇa + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (instrumental/possessive sense): 'having bow-and-arrow in hand'; Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular, Masculine; qualifying 'rāmē'

• hṛtā: abducted
• hṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) → hṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agrees with implied 'aham (Sītā)'

• api: even if
• api: Sambandha-marker (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive particle (अपि = even though)

• te: for you, to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• jarām: old age, decay
• jarām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• gamiṣyē: I shall go/come to (i.e., become subject to)
• gamiṣyē: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Ātmanepada, First person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vajram: a thunderbolt/diamond
• vajram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; upamā-dṛṣṭānta subject with 'yathā'

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (उपमा)

• makṣikayā: by a fly
• makṣikayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makṣikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• avagīrṇam: swallowed
• avagīrṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + gṝ (धातु) → avagīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; here Nominative agreeing with 'vajram'

Context

So long Rama, equal in prowess to the thousand-eyed Indra stands with bow and arrows in hand, I will not, although abducted, wither away like a diamond gulped by an insect (fly).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• bow (kārmuka)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• vajra (diamond/adamant)

FAQs

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

Sītā upholds pativratā-dharma and satya: unwavering fidelity and truthfulness, refusing to be morally broken even under coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is attempting to intimidate and entice Sītā after abducting her; she responds with firm confidence in Rāma’s power and her own integrity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast courage and chastity (niṣṭhā/śīla): Sītā declares she will not ‘wither’ or yield to Rāvaṇa despite danger.