Valmiki Ramayana 5.22.5 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 5

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply

Devanagari script

एतस्मात्कारणान्न त्वां घातयामि वरानने।वधार्हामवमानार्हां मिथ्याप्रव्रजिते रताम्।।।।

Transliteration

etasmāt kāraṇān na tvāṃ ghātayāmi varānane | vadhārhām avamānārhāṃ mithyāpravrajite ratām ||

Translation

याच कारणामुळे, हे वरानने, मी तुला मारत नाही—जरी तू वधास व अपमानास योग्य असलीस—कारण तू मिथ्या प्रव्रज्या-रूप धारण करण्यात रत आहेस।

Word by Word

• एतस्मात्: from this/for this reason
• एतस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• कारणात्: because of the cause
• कारणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular (cause)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (वाक्य-निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• घातयामि: I kill / I cause to be killed
• घातयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (णिजन्त from √हन्/√घात् causative) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; Present, 1st person singular, active; causative: cause to be killed/kill

• वरानने: O fair-faced lady
• वरानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (वरं आननं यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• वधार्हाम्: deserving death
• वधार्हाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वधं अर्हति या); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying त्वाम्; Accusative singular

• अवमानार्हाम्: deserving humiliation
• अवमानार्हाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवमान + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अवमानं अर्हति या); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying त्वाम्; Accusative singular

• मिथ्याप्रव्रजिते: in/with a false ascetic (life)
• मिथ्याप्रव्रजिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्या + प्रव्रजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (मिथ्या प्रव्रजितः = false ascetic); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• रताम्: engaged/delighting (in)
• रताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूतकाले) 'रत' used as adjective; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; engaged/delighting in; qualifying त्वाम्; Accusative singular

Context

"O beautiful one! it is on this account that I do not kill you even though you deserve to be killed and insulted (for the words used), even as you are engaged in a pseudo-ascetic life.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights adharma: Rāvaṇa claims moral authority to punish, yet his very act of coercion and abuse is unrighteous. It also critiques false renunciation (mithyā‑pravrajyā), implying that outward religious appearance without truthfulness (satya) is ethically hollow.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Aśoka grove context, Rāvaṇa threatens Sītā after her refusal, asserting she deserves punishment but withholding immediate killing for his own stated reasons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (implicitly), Sītā’s satya and steadfast fidelity are foregrounded: she will not accept a false path or compromise her marital dharma despite threats.