Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 15

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

सुलोहिततलौश्लक्ष् णौचरणौसुप्रतिष्ठितौ ।दृष्ट्वाताम्रनखौतस्यादीप्यतेमेशरीरजः ।।6.12.15।।

Transliteration

sulohitatalau ślakṣṇau caraṇau supratiṣṭhitau |

dṛṣṭvā tāmranakhau tasyā dīpyate me śarīrajaḥ ||6.12.15||

Translation

Увидев её ступни — гладкие, с ярко-красными подошвами, крепко поставленные, с ногтями медно-розового оттенка, — желание, рожденное во мне, разгорается ещё сильнее.

Word by Word

• सुलोहिततलौ: having very red soles
• सुलोहिततलौ: Karma (कर्म/qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + लोहित + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ‘सु-लोहिते तले यस्यौ’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण (चरणौ)

• श्लक्ष्णौ: smooth
• श्लक्ष्णौ: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• चरणौ: (two) feet
• चरणौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• सुप्रतिष्ठितौ: well-formed; well-set
• सुप्रतिष्ठितौ: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रति + √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP ‘well-set/firm’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) ‘having seen’

• ताम्रनखौ: having coppery nails
• ताम्रनखौ: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ‘ताम्रौ नखौ यस्यौ’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण (चरणौ)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दीप्यते: blazes; is kindled
• दीप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दीप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive) एकवचन; enclitic

• शरीरजः: bodily-born (desire)
• शरीरजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ‘शरीरात् जायते’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

"On beholding the sacrificial fire-like face of Sita glowing like the radiance of the Sun, seeing her prominent nose, her large attractive countenance with beautiful eyes surely, I am overtaken by love and have become a slave to her."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

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

It illustrates how sensory fixation inflames desire; dharma calls for restraint and respect for another’s marital fidelity (pativratā-dharma) rather than objectification.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa confesses the intensifying of his desire upon seeing Sītā’s features, revealing the inner engine of adharma driving his actions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is self-mastery; the speaker’s admission highlights its absence and the moral peril of unchecked kāma.