Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 4

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

अकार्यं न मया कार्यमेकपत्न्या विगर्हितम्।।।।कुलं सम्प्राप्तया पुण्यं कुले महति जातया।

Transliteration

akāryaṃ na mayā kāryam ekapatnyā vigarhitam |

kulaṃ samprāptayā puṇyaṃ kule mahati jātayā ||

Translation

మహాకులంలో జన్మించి పుణ్యకులంలో వివాహితనైన నేను ఏకపత్ని వ్రతస్థురాలిని; ఈ నిషిద్ధమైన, నింద్యమైన కార్యం నేను చేయను।

Word by Word

• अकार्यं: a forbidden act
• अकार्यं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: to be done
• कार्यम्: Pratishedha-vishaya (प्रतिषेधविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• एक-पत्न्या: by/for a woman devoted to one husband
• एक-पत्न्या: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; 'एकस्य पत्नीत्वेन' / 'एकपत्नीभावेन' (as one devoted to one husband)

• विगर्हितम्: condemned/blameworthy
• विगर्हितम्: Pratishedha-vishaya (प्रतिषेधविषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + गर्ह् (धातु) → विगर्हित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate)

• कुलम्: family/lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सम्प्राप्तया: by one who has entered/attained (the family)
• सम्प्राप्तया: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु) → सम्प्राप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; 'having attained/entered (by marriage)'

• पुण्यम्: meritorious
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying कुलम्)

• कुले: in a family
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• महति: great/noble
• महति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying कुले)

• जातया: by one born (therein)
• जातया: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; 'born'

Context

"You will not be able to withstand them in a battle. You will meet the same fate as the one-armed Vritra in a battle with the two-armed Indra.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Marital fidelity and moral restraint: a righteous person refuses acts that violate dharma, even under pressure.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā, Sītā rejects Rāvaṇa’s advances and grounds her refusal in family honor and wifely chastity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast chastity (pativratā-dharma) and unwavering adherence to propriety (maryādā).