Shloka 23

सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः

Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा परुषं रोमहर्षणम्।।।।प्रत्युवाच ततस्सीतां भयसन्दर्शनं वचः।

Transliteration

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā paruṣaṃ romaharṣaṇam |

pratyuvāca tataḥ sītāṃ bhayasandarśanaṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

ସୀତାଙ୍କର କଠୋର ଓ ରୋମାଞ୍ଚକର ବଚନ ଶୁଣି ରାବଣ ପରେ ସୀତାଙ୍କୁ ଭୟ ଦେଖାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଉତ୍ତରରୂପେ ବଚନ କହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• सीतायाः: of Sītā
• सीतायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वचनम् इति विशेषणम्

• रोमहर्षणम्: horripilating, hair-raising
• रोमहर्षणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: romaharṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वचनम् इति विशेषणम्

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्रति+

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablative adverb: then/thereupon)

• सीताम्: Sītā (to Sītā)
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भयसन्दर्शनम्: fear-inducing
• भयसन्दर्शनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya+sandarśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhayasya sandarśanam)

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Context

Having heard such harsh, horripilating words from Sita, Ravana replied in a way designed to create fear in her:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is contrasted with adharma: coercion through fear is shown as morally corrupt, highlighting that righteous persuasion never relies on intimidation.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s rebuke, Rāvaṇa responds, shifting from persuasion to fear-based threats.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, Sītā’s moral courage is underscored because Rāvaṇa must resort to intimidation to counter her principled resistance.