Shloka 8

सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा

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

Devanagari script

तच्च सर्वं महाबाहो शक्यं धर्तुं जितेन्द्रियैः।।3.9.8।।तव वश्येन्द्रियत्वं च जानामि शुभदर्शन।

Transliteration

tac ca sarvaṁ mahā-bāho śakyaṁ dhartuṁ jitendriyaiḥ |

tava vaśyendriyatvaṁ ca jānāmi śubha-darśana || 3.9.8 ||

Translation

ഹേ മഹാബാഹോ, അതെല്ലാം ജിതേന്ദ്രിയന്മാർക്കേ ധരിക്കാനാകൂ; ഹേ ശുഭദർശന, നിനക്കു ഇന്ദ്രിയവശത്വമുണ്ടെന്ന് ഞാൻ അറിയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• सर्वम्: all (that)
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘महान्तौ बाहू यस्य सः’

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक; शक् धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• धर्तुम्: to maintain/hold
• धर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): ‘to hold/maintain’

• जित-इन्द्रियैः: by those who have conquered the senses
• जित-इन्द्रियैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जित (कृदन्त; जि धातु, क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येषाम्’ (sense-conquered persons)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वश्य-इन्द्रियत्वम्: self-control (control over senses)
• वश्य-इन्द्रियत्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘वश्यानि इन्द्रियाणि’ + ‘त्वम्’ = state of having controllable senses

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• जानामि: I know
• जानामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• शुभ-दर्शन: O pleasing-looking one
• शुभ-दर्शन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘शुभं दर्शनं यस्य सः’

Context

O long-armed one, to contain all this is only possible for those who have conquered the senses. O handsome one, I know your ability to control the senses.

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown to depend on mastery of the senses; ethical stability is not merely intention but disciplined self-governance (jitendriyatā).

What is the narrative situation?

After listing Rama’s virtues, the speaker explains that maintaining such virtues is possible only through sense-control, and affirms Rama’s capacity for it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indriya-nigraha (control of the senses), presented as the practical foundation for living truthfully and righteously.