Shloka 14

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

राज्याच्च्युतमसिद्धार्थं रामं परिमितायुषम्।कैर्गुणैरनुरक्तासि मूढे पण्डितमानिनि।।3.49.14।।यः स्त्रिया वचनाद्राज्यं विहाय ससुहृज्जनम्।अस्मिन्व्यालानुचरिते वने वसति दुर्मतिः।।3.49.15।।

Transliteration

rājyāc cyutam asiddhārthaṃ rāmaṃ parimitāyuṣam | kair guṇair anuraktāsi mūḍhe paṇḍitamānini || yaḥ striyā vacanād rājyaṃ vihāya sa-suhṛjjanam | asmin vyālānucarite vane vasati durmatiḥ ||

Translation

രാജ്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്താക്കപ്പെട്ട, ലക്ഷ്യം നേടാത്ത, അല്പായുസ്സുള്ള രാമനോടു നീ ഏതു ഗുണങ്ങളാൽ ആസക്തയാകുന്നു? ഹേ മൂഢേ, പണ്ഡിതയെന്നു സ്വയം കരുതുന്നവളേ! സ്ത്രീയുടെ വാക്കിനാൽ രാജ്യംയും സുഹൃത്തുക്കളെയും ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, മൃഗങ്ങൾ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന ഈ വനത്തിൽ വസിക്കുന്നവൻ ദുര്‍മതിയാണ്.

Word by Word

• राज्यात्: from the kingdom
• राज्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च्युतम्: fallen/banished
• च्युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: च्युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √च्यु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘रामम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• असिद्धार्थम्: whose aims are unaccomplished
• असिद्धार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असिद्धार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-तत्पुरुष (nañ-tatpuruṣa), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); घटकाः: अ- (नञ्) + सिद्ध + अर्थ

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• परिमितायुषम्: of limited lifespan
• परिमितायुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिमित-आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); घटकाः: परिमित (limited) + आयुस् (life)

• कैः: by what (which)
• कैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गुणैः: by virtues/qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनुरक्ता: attached/devoted
• अनुरक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-रक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √रञ्ज्/रक्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्तृसमाना ‘त्वम्’

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• मूढे: O foolish woman
• मूढे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पण्डितमानिनि: O you who think yourself wise
• पण्डितमानिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित-मानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); घटकाः: पण्डित (wise) + मानिन् (one who thinks/prides oneself)

Context

I am your praiseworthy husband. I will not cause any unpleasantness to you at any time. Abandon on your inclination towards, a (mere) mortal. Divert your love to me.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma
• forest (vana)
• wild beasts (vyāla)

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns slander and misrepresentation. Rāvaṇa twists Rāma’s exile—undertaken to uphold truth and filial duty—into ‘failure,’ showing how adharma uses false narratives to justify wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Failing to win Sītā by praise, Rāvaṇa shifts to denigrating Rāma and mocking Sītā, attempting to break her resolve through contempt.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s virtue (implied) is satya and duty-bound renunciation; Sītā’s is discernment and unwavering loyalty despite verbal assault.