Shloka 11

सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा

Sita’s Counsel on Dharma and the Peril of Weapon-Association

Devanagari script

एतन्निमित्तं च वनं दण्डका इति विश्रुतम्।।3.9.11।।प्रस्थितस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा धृतबाणशरासनः।

Transliteration

etannimittaṃ ca vanaṃ daṇḍakā iti viśrutam ||3.9.11||

prasthitas tvaṃ saha bhrātrā dhṛtabāṇaśarāsanaḥ |

Translation

ഈ കാരണത്താലാണ് ആ വനത്തിന് ‘ദണ്ഡക’ എന്ന പ്രസിദ്ധി; അതിനായിട്ടുതന്നെ നീ സഹോദരനോടൊപ്പം, ധനുസ്സും ബാണങ്ങളും ധരിച്ച്, അവിടേക്ക് പ്രസ്ഥാനം ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• etat-nimittam: this reason
• etat-nimittam: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (प्रातिपदिक) + nimitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (etan nimittam = this very reason); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (contextually predicate/accusative)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• vanam: the forest
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• daṇḍakāḥ: Dandakas (name)
• daṇḍakāḥ: Pratipadya-nāma (नाम/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; नामरूपेण (as a proper name)

• iti: thus / by the name
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative/marker of name)

• viśrutam: is well-known
• viśrutam: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√śru (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate 'is renowned'

• prasthitaḥ: set out / departed
• prasthitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle, active sense); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/सह-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-शब्दः सहार्थक अव्यय (preposition-like, 'together with')

• bhrātrā: with (your) brother
• bhrātrā: Sahakāraka (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/सह), एकवचन

• dhṛta-bāṇa-śarāsanaḥ: holding bow and arrows
• dhṛta-bāṇa-śarāsanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (√dhṛ, धातु + क्त) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śarāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समासभावः: dhṛte bāṇe śarāsane ca yasya (having held arrows and bow); बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थे विशेषणप्रयोग; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; qualifies 'tvam'

Context

It is only on account of this that you entered the well-known Dandaka forest with your brother wielding bow and arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied by 'brother')
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Daṇḍaka forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as purposeful action: entering the forest with weapons is justified only by the duty of protection and restraint in the use of force.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā links Rāma’s armed journey with Lakṣmaṇa into Daṇḍaka to the mission of curbing violent disruption in the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s sense of responsibility—he undertakes hardship and danger to uphold order and protect the vulnerable.