Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 26

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply

Devanagari script

श्रोणिसूत्रेण महता मेचकेन सुसंवृतः।अमृतोत्पादनद्धेन भुजगेनेव मन्दरः।।।।

Transliteration

śroṇisūtreṇa mahatā mecakena susaṁvṛtaḥ | amṛtotpādanaddhena bhujagen eva mandaraḥ ||

Translation

నడుము చుట్టూ గొప్ప నల్లటి కటిబంధంతో బాగా కప్పబడి, అతడు అమృతోత్పత్తి కోసం సముద్రమథనంలో ఉపయోగించిన నాగము చుట్టుకున్న మందరపర్వతంలా కనిపించాడు।

Word by Word

• śroṇi-sūtreṇa: by a hip-band/waist-thread
• śroṇi-sūtreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śroṇisūtra (प्रातिपदिक; śroṇi + sūtra)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास (śroṇyāḥ sūtram = thread/band for the hips)

• mahatā: by a huge
• mahatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with mecakena/śroṇisūtreṇa (instrumental)

• mecakena: dark-colored
• mecakena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mecaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); color-adjective qualifying śroṇisūtra

• su-saṃvṛtaḥ: well-wrapped/covered
• su-saṃvṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√vṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्/क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva with su- (सु) = well; predicate adjective

• amṛta-utpādana-addhena: by the (rope/band) tied for producing nectar
• amṛta-utpādana-addhena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amṛtotpādanaddha (प्रातिपदिक; amṛta + utpādana + addha)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास: amṛtasya utpādane addhaḥ = tied/fastened for the production of nectar (churning context)

• bhujagena: by/like a serpent
• bhujagena: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhujaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); used in simile with iva

• iva: like/as
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), upamā-vācaka (उपमावाचक)

• mandaraḥ: Mandara (mountain)
• mandaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); subject of implied comparison (Rāvaṇa compared to Mandara)

Context

Wrapped well with a big black thread around his hips, he appeared like mount Mandara encompassed by a black serpent at the time of churning the milk-ocean for nectar.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• serpent (Vāsuki implied)
• amṛta (nectar)

FAQs

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

The simile reminds that immense power can serve creation (like churning for amṛta) or destruction; dharma determines its rightful use.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues describing Rāvaṇa’s imposing form through grand cosmological imagery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicit teaching: power should be yoked to righteous purpose; otherwise it becomes merely intimidating spectacle.