Shloka 22

दनु-शापकथा तथा सीताहरण-प्रश्नः

Danu’s Curse Narrative and Rama’s Inquiry about Sita

Devanagari script

नाममात्रं तु जानामि न रूपं तस्य रक्षसः।।3.71.22।।निवासं वा प्रभावं वा वयं तस्य न विद्महे।

Transliteration

nāmamātraṃ tu jānāmi na rūpaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ | nivāsaṃ vā prabhāvaṃ vā vayaṃ tasya na vidmahe ||

Translation

ഞാൻ അവന്റെ പേര് മാത്രമേ അറിയൂ; ആ രാക്ഷസന്റെ രൂപം എനിക്കറിയില്ല; അവന്റെ വാസസ്ഥലമോ പ്രഭാവമോ ഞങ്ങൾക്കറിയില്ല.

Word by Word

• nāma-mātram: only the name
• nāma-mātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but; however
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• jānāmi: I know
• jānāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• rūpam: form; appearance
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him; his
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rakṣasaḥ: of the demon
• rakṣasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nivāsam: dwelling; residence
• nivāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• prabhāvam: power; might
• prabhāvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative 1st (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tasya: of him; his
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• vidmahe: we know
• vidmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Context

I only know his name. We do not know how he looks, where he lives and what influence he has.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ravana
• Rakshasa (demon-kind)

FAQs

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

Satya includes admitting limits of knowledge; dharmic action requires clear understanding, so Rāma truthfully acknowledges what is unknown and seeks reliable guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains that beyond the name ‘Rāvaṇa,’ he lacks details about the abductor’s appearance, location, and capabilities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Intellectual honesty and humility—recognizing uncertainty rather than making reckless assumptions.