Shloka 32

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

तस्य ते विग्रहे ताभ्यां युगग्रहणमस्थिरम्।।।।वृत्रस्येवेन्द्रबाहुभ्यां बाहोरेकस्य विग्रहे।

Transliteration

tasya te vigrahe tābhyāṃ yugagrahaṇam asthiram |

vṛtrasya evendra-bāhubhyāṃ bāhor ekasya vigrahe ||

Translation

அந்த இருவருடன் போரிடும்போது நீ நிலைத்து நிற்க இயலாது. இந்திரனின் இரு வலிய கரங்களின் முன் ஒருகை கொண்ட வ்ருத்ரன் எவ்வாறு முடிவுற்றானோ, அவ்வாறே உன் நிலையும் ஆகும்।

Word by Word

तस्यof him/for him

तेyour

विग्रहेin battle/struggle

ताभ्याम्by those two

युगग्रहणम्the (simultaneous) seizing as a pair

अस्थिरम्unstable/not firm (i.e., not tenable)

वृत्रस्यof Vṛtra

इवlike

इन्द्रबाहुभ्याम्by Indra's two arms

बाहोःof the arm

एकस्यof one (single)

विग्रहेin the struggle (of)

Context

"O night-ranger! Enjoy your wives. Take care of them. Taking your example, others' wives also deserve to be protected.

Characters & Entities

Sītā

Rāvaṇa

Rāma

Lakṣmaṇa (implied as the second)

Indra

Vṛtra

FAQs

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

Adharma invites inevitable retribution; power used unrighteously collapses before dharmic force.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā warns Rāvaṇa that he cannot withstand Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa together, using a Vedic-Itihāsa analogy (Indra–Vṛtra).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless truth-speaking—Sītā confronts Rāvaṇa with consequences without intimidation.