Shloka 7

अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं

Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation

Devanagari script

रावणेनापनीतैषावीर्योसतिक्तेनरक्षसा ।त्वयाविरहितादीनाविवशानिर्जनाद्वनात् ।।।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇenāpanītaiṣā vīryotsiktena rakṣasā |

tvayā virahitā dīnā vivaśā nirjanād vanāt ||

Translation

സ്വവീര്യത്തിൽ മദോന്മത്തനായ രാവണൻ എന്ന രാക്ഷസൻ, നിന്നിൽ നിന്ന് വേർപെട്ട് ദീനയും വിവശയും ആയിരുന്ന ഈ സ്ത്രീയെ നിർജനവനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് അപഹരിച്ചു കൊണ്ടുപോയി.

Word by Word

• रावणेन: by Ravana
• रावणेन: Kartṛ-karaṇa/Agent (कर्ता-करण; passive agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• अपनीता: abducted
• अपनीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप+नी (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; 'carried off'

• एषा: this (Sita)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वीर्योत्सिक्तेन: proud of valor
• वीर्योत्सिक्तेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्य-उत्सिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः: वीर्येण उत्सिक्तः (intoxicated/proud with valor)

• रक्षसा: by the rakshasa
• रक्षसा: Kartṛ-karaṇa/Agent (कर्ता-करण; passive agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• त्वया: from you/without you
• त्वया: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान; cause of separation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• विरहिता: separated
• विरहिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; 'separated'

• दीना: wretched
• दीना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• विवशा: helpless
• विवशा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• निर्जनात्: from a lonely (place)
• निर्जनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः: निर्+जन (devoid of people)

• वनात्: from the forest
• वनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative), एकवचनम्

Context

Radiating like the rising sun, adorned with polished gold ornaments, wearing red coloured clothes, with beautiful black hair, wearing fresh flowers, being in the same young form as before, blameless Vaidehi was held in the arms of the fire god and presented to Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Rama
• Sita
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

It distinguishes victimhood from culpability: being forcibly taken does not diminish righteousness; injustice lies with the aggressor, not the violated.

What is the narrative situation?

Agni recounts the circumstances of Sītā’s abduction to frame her suffering as coercion, not consent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s helplessness under force underscores her innocence; Rāvaṇa’s arrogance highlights adharma.