Shloka 28

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

त्वं कर्म कृतवानेतत्कालोपहतचेतनः।।3.49.28।।जीवितान्तकरं घोरं रामाद्व्यसनमाप्नुहि।

Transliteration

tvaṁ karma kṛtavān etat kālopahatacetanaḥ || 3.49.28 || jīvitāntakaraṁ ghoraṁ rāmād vyasanam āpnuhi |

Translation

कालोपहतचेतनः त्वम् एतत् कर्म कृतवान्; रामात् घोरं जीवितान्तकरं व्यसनम् आप्नुहि।

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्म: deed
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृतवान्: have done
• कृतवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्तवतु), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having done/did’ (periphrastic perfect sense)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective to ‘कर्म’

• कालोपहतचेतनः: one whose senses are impaired by time
• कालोपहतचेतनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + उपहत + चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालेन उपहतं चेतनं यस्य)

• जीवितान्तकरम्: life-ending
• जीवितान्तकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवित + अन्त + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘life-ending’ qualifying ‘व्यसनम्’

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying ‘व्यसनम्’

• रामात्: from Rāma
• रामात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; source/agent ‘from Rāma’

• व्यसनम्: calamity
• व्यसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of ‘आप्नुहि’

• आप्नुहि: attain / meet with
• आप्नुहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Time has taken a toll of your senses. This has made you do what you have done. A great calamity is awaiting you in the hands of Rama. It will end your life.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

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

Adharma invites inevitable retribution; dharma asserts that righteous force (here, Rāma) becomes the instrument through which evil meets its end.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā directly addresses Rāvaṇa during the abduction, warning him that his act will bring about his destruction through Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless truth-speaking (satya-vacana): Sītā speaks plainly to the aggressor, upholding moral law without submission.