Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 27

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

राक्षसेन्द्रमहासर्पान् स रामगरुडो महान्।।।।उद्धरिष्यति वेगेन वैनतेय इवोरगान्।

Transliteration

rākṣasendra-mahāsarpān sa rāma-garuḍo mahān | uddhariṣyati vegena vainateya ivoragān ||

Translation

स रामगरुडो महान् राक्षसेन्द्रमहासर्पान् वेगेन उद्धरिष्यति, वैनतेय इवोरगान्।

Word by Word

• राक्षसेन्द्रमहासर्पान्: great serpents (i.e., demon-lords)
• राक्षसेन्द्रमहासर्पान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + इन्द्र + महा + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षस-इन्द्राः एव महा-सर्पाः इव)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रामगरुडः: Rama's Garuda (metaphor)
• रामगरुडः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य गरुडः = Rama's Garuda, metaphor)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उद्धरिष्यति: will lift up, will carry away
• उद्धरिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वैनतेयः: Vainateya (Garuda)
• वैनतेयः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैनतेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-निपात

• उरगान्: serpents
• उरगान्: Upameya (उपमेय/compared object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Context

"Just as Garuda swiftly extirpates the serpents, Rama will exterminate the demon leaders.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasendra (demon-lords)
• Vainateya (Garuḍa)
• Uragas (serpents, as simile)

FAQs

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

Dharma ultimately overpowers predatory tyranny; the oppressor’s apparent invincibility collapses before righteous intervention.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā predicts the defeat of Laṅkā’s leading warriors by Rāma, using the Garuḍa-versus-serpents image.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s decisive courage and the inevitability of dharmic victory over adharma.