Shloka 26

आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā Reports to Rāvaṇa; Rāma’s Might and Sītā’s Description

Devanagari script

विज्ञायेहात्मशक्तिं च ह्रियतामबला बलात्।सीता सर्वानवद्याङ्गी भार्यार्थे राक्षसेश्वर।।।।

Transliteration

vijñāyehātmaśaktiṃ ca hriyatām abalā balāt | sītā sarvānavadyāṅgī bhāryārthe rākṣaseśvara ||

Translation

हे राक्षसेश्वर! प्रथम आपल्या शक्तीचा नीट विचार कर. सर्वांगसुंदर, निर्दोष व कोमल सीतेला केवळ पत्नी करण्यासाठी बलाने उचलून नेऊ नकोस.

Word by Word

• विज्ञाय: having assessed
• विज्ञाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √jñā (ज्ञा) (धातु)
• Form: ktvā-anta (absolutive): ‘having ascertained/considered’

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: place adverb

• आत्म-शक्तिम्: one's own power
• आत्म-शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of vijñāya

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: conjunction

• ह्रियताम्: let (her) be abducted
• ह्रियताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (हृ) (धातu)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; karmani-prayoga (passive): ‘let her be carried off’

• अबला: the helpless woman
• अबला: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of passive hriyatām

• बलात्: by force
• बलात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Pañcamī, Ekavacana; adverbial ablative ‘by force’

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to अबला

• सर्व-अनवद्य-अङ्गी: having faultless limbs in every way
• सर्व-अनवद्य-अङ्गी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + anavadya (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi-like descriptive: ‘whose limbs are faultless in every respect’; viśeṣaṇa of सीता

• भार्या-अर्थे: for (as) wife
• भार्या-अर्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; purpose

• राक्षस-ईश्वर: O lord of demons
• राक्षस-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

Context

Assess your own strength, O Lord of the demons, before you forcefully abduct that delicate Sita who is charming in all respects and make her your wife.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa (Rākṣaseśvara)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that coercion against the vulnerable (balāt haraṇa—abduction by force) is adharma; it also urges sober self-assessment before pursuing harmful desire.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā, after witnessing Rāma’s power, counsels Rāvaṇa regarding Sītā—implicitly warning against a forceful abduction and its consequences.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and restraint: the counsel stresses discernment (vijñāya) and the need to curb force-driven desire.