Shloka 9

राक्षसी-भर्त्सना

The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā

Devanagari script

ततो हरिजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।विवर्त्य नयने कोपान्मार्जारसदृशेक्षणा।

Transliteration

tato harijaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyam abravīt |

vivartya nayane kopān mārjāra-sadṛśekṣaṇā ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ഹരിജടാ എന്ന രാക്ഷസി പറഞ്ഞു; കോപത്തോടെ കണ്ണുകൾ ഉരുട്ടി, പൂച്ചയെപ്പോലെയുള്ള ദൃഷ്ടിയോടെ അവൾ നോക്കി നിന്നു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम-वाचक

• harijaṭā: Harijaṭā
• harijaṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: हरि-जटा = having tawny/yellowish matted hair (name)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-निर्देशक अव्यय

• rākṣasī: demoness
• rākṣasī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vākyam: speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vivartya: rolling/turning
• vivartya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√vṛt (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), अर्थ: having turned/rolled

• nayane: (her) two eyes
• nayane: Karma (कर्म) of vivartya
• Type: Noun
• Root: nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (Dual); अर्थ: the two eyes

• kopāt: from anger
• kopāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (cause)

• mārjāra-sadṛśa-īkṣaṇā: cat-eyed
• mārjāra-sadṛśa-īkṣaṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rākṣasī/harijaṭā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārjāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मार्जार-सदृशम् ईक्षणं यस्याः = cat-like-eyed

Context

Then an ogress called Harijata said this in anger, her cat-eyes rolling:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

Anger-fueled intimidation is presented as a tool of unrighteousness; dharma values restraint and truthful persuasion, not predatory pressure.

What is the narrative situation?

After Ekajaṭā’s persuasion, Harijaṭā takes her turn to speak more aggressively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage (dhairya) is demanded of Sītā as she faces escalating hostility.