Valmiki Ramayana 3.49.15 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 15

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

राज्याच्च्युतमसिद्धार्थं रामं परिमितायुषम्।कैर्गुणैरनुरक्तासि मूढे पण्डितमानिनि।।3.49.14।।यः स्त्रिया वचनाद्राज्यं विहाय ससुहृज्जनम्।अस्मिन्व्यालानुचरिते वने वसति दुर्मतिः।।3.49.15।।

Transliteration

rājyāc cyutam asiddhārthaṃ rāmaṃ parimitāyuṣam | kair guṇair anuraktāsi mūḍhe paṇḍitamānini || yaḥ striyā vacanād rājyaṃ vihāya sa-suhṛjjanam | asmin vyālānucarite vane vasati durmatiḥ ||

Translation

రాజ్యమునుండి చ్యుతుడై, కార్యసిద్ధి లేని, పరిమితాయుష్కుడైన రామునిపై నీవెందుకు మమకారము కలిగినది, ఓ మూఢే, పండితమానినీ? స్త్రీ వచనమునకు లోబడి రాజ్యమును సుహృజ్జనమును విడిచి, ఈ వ్యాళములు సంచరించు అరణ్యములో ఆ దుర్మతి నివసించుచున్నాడు.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्त्रिया: by a woman
• स्त्रिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वचनात्: because of (her) word
• वचनात्: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विहाय: having left
• विहाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having abandoned’

• ससुहृत्जनम्: (his) friends and people (with him)
• ससुहृत्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स- सुहृत्-जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/समाहारार्थ (determinative with prefix ‘स-’ = ‘with’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); घटकाः: स (सहित) + सुहृत् (friend) + जन (people)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यालानुचरिते: haunted by wild beasts
• व्यालानुचरिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याल-अनुचरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); घटकाः: व्याल (wild beast) + अनुचरित (frequented/haunted)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वसति: dwells/lives
• वसति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• दुर्मतिः: the evil-minded man
• दुर्मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (possessive: ‘one whose mind is bad’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

I am your praiseworthy husband. I will not cause any unpleasantness to you at any time. Abandon on your inclination towards, a (mere) mortal. Divert your love to me.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma
• forest (vana)
• wild beasts (vyāla)

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns slander and misrepresentation. Rāvaṇa twists Rāma’s exile—undertaken to uphold truth and filial duty—into ‘failure,’ showing how adharma uses false narratives to justify wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Failing to win Sītā by praise, Rāvaṇa shifts to denigrating Rāma and mocking Sītā, attempting to break her resolve through contempt.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s virtue (implied) is satya and duty-bound renunciation; Sītā’s is discernment and unwavering loyalty despite verbal assault.