Valmiki Ramayana 5.21.16: Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 16

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Spoken by Sita to RavanaSetting: Laṅkā (Aśoka-vana)

Devanagari script

उपधाय भुजं तस्य लोकनाथस्य सत्कृतम् ॥१६॥

कथं नामोपधास्यामि भुजमन्यस्य कस्य चित् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 5.21.16

Transliteration

upadhāya bhujaṃ tasya lokanāthasya satkṛtam ||16||

kathaṃ nāmopadhāsyāmi bhujam anyasya kasya cit |

Translation

Opierając się na czcigodnym ramieniu tego Pana świata, jakżeż mogłabym kiedykolwiek złożyć głowę na ramieniu kogokolwiek innego?

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Word by Word

• upadhāya: having placed (as a pillow)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dhā (धातु) + upa (उपसर्ग) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)
• Role: —

• bhujam: arm
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• tasya: of him
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• loka-nāthasya: of the lord of the world/people
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"लोकानां नाथः"
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• sat-kṛtam: honoured/respected
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—"सत्-कृत" = well-honoured; agrees with bhujam (sense: honoured arm)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• katham: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)
• Role: —

• nāma: indeed/ever
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/interrogative particle (निपात)
• Role: —

• upadhāsyāmi: shall I place/rest (on)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु) + upa (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Future tense (लृट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• bhujam: arm
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• anyasya: of another
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies kasya cit
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• kasya: of whom
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• cit: ever/any
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cit (अव्यय)
• Form: Indefinite particle (अनिश्चितार्थक-निपात), with kasya = "of anyone"
• Role: —

Sandhi Notes

• nāma upadhāsyāmi → nāmopadhāsyāmi
• bhujamanyasya = bhujam anyasya
• kasya cit often written kasyacit

Context

"How can I pillow on somebody's arm after resting on the honourable arm of the great lord of the worlds ?

The teaching

True intimacy and trust are dharmically bounded; one does not exchange rightful shelter for coerced comfort.

Duties in tension

• Coerced accommodation to captor for safety vs fidelity and personal integrity
• Rāvaṇa’s desire vs dharma of respecting marital bonds

Ethical theme

Strī-dharma / śaraṇāgati

How it resolves

Exclusive refuge and categorical refusal

Devotion and practice

Meditation on exclusive refuge (eka-śaraṇa) and guarding inner boundaries; supports vrata-like resolve in practice.

Deity praised

Rāma (Lokānātha)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mantra

लोकनाथस्य

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Intimate, steadfast, dignified

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Pativratā-dharma
• Maryāda
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Exclusive commitment and rightful relationship are central to dharma; one should not abandon the legitimate bond for an unrighteous alternative.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā rebuffs Rāvaṇa’s proposal by invoking her prior, honored union with Rāma as morally and emotionally non-transferable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Constancy in love and duty—Sītā’s unwavering adherence to her rightful spouse and moral order.