Shloka 17

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

रावणस्य गृहे सीता स्थिता भेजे न रावणम् / कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सा गता राघवं सदा

Transliteration

rāvaṇasya gṛhe sītā sthitā bheje na rāvaṇam / karmaṇā manasā vācā sā gatā rāghavaṃ sadā

Translation

రావణుని ఇంటిలో ఉన్నప్పటికీ సీత రావణుని అంగీకరించలేదు; కర్మతో, మనసుతో, వాక్యంతో ఆమె ఎల్లప్పుడూ రాఘవునికే (రామునికే) అంకితమై నిలిచింది।

Word by Word

• रावणस्य: of Rāvaṇa
• रावणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• गृहे: in the house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• सीता: Sītā
• सीता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्थिताः: remaining/staying
• स्थिताः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भेजे: she accepted/consorted with
• भेजे: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• मनसा: by mind/thought
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• वाचा: by speech/word
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गता: devoted/turned (towards)
• गता: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘गता’ = ‘आसक्ता/प्रवृत्ता’ इति भावे

• राघवम्: Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal adverb/कालवाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra, traditional dialogue frame of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tri-karaṇa-śuddhi: purity of action, mind, and speech; fidelity is an inner vow not dependent on external circumstance.

Vedantic Theme: Inner agency and saṃskāra: the self’s orientation (bhāva) governs karma; steadfast dharma amid adversity.

Application: Maintain ethical boundaries even under pressure; align thoughts, words, and actions; cultivate inner commitments that cannot be coerced.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: palace/inner quarters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.142.18 (pativratā-mahātmya introduction)

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Ravana
• Raghava (Rama)

FAQs

What is the importance of purity in thought, word, and deed in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that true dharma is maintained through all three—action, mind, and speech—showing that inner intention matters as much as outward conduct.

How does this verse relate to karma in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing karmaṇā, manasā, and vācā, it reflects the karmic principle that merit and fault arise from deeds, intentions, and speech together—not only from physical acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice tri-fold discipline: keep conduct clean, guard thoughts from harmful intent, and use truthful, non-injuring speech—so integrity remains consistent in private and public life.