Shloka 20

रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च

Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना।अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं रहिते राक्षसाधिपम्।।।।

Transliteration

evam uktā tu vaidēhī kruddhā saṃrakta-locanā |

abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ rahite rākṣasādhipam ||

Translation

เมื่อถูกกล่าวเช่นนั้น ไวเทหีโกรธจัด ดวงตาแดงก่ำ แล้วในที่ลับสงัดนั้น นางกล่าวถ้อยคำแข็งกร้าวต่อจอมแห่งรากษส

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• उक्ता: addressed/told
• उक्ता: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘having been spoken to’

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (but/indeed)

• वैदेही: Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेही: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; proper noun/epithet of Sita

• क्रुद्धा: angry
• क्रुद्धा: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• संरक्त-लोचना: with reddened eyes
• संरक्त-लोचना: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संरक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √रञ्ज् with सम्) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (संरक्ते लोचने यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; parasmaipada

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; agrees with वाक्यम्

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• रहिते: in a solitary place
• रहिते: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्; locative absolute sense ‘in a lonely place’ (elliptic)

• राक्षस-अधिपम्: the lord of demons
• राक्षस-अधिपम्: सम्प्रदान/कर्म (Addressee as object/प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसानाम् अधिपः); पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

Context

Just as people get scared of death, all (creatures) including gandharvas, gods, evil spirits, birds and snakes run away from me.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Speaking truth to wrongdoing—even in isolation and danger—upholds Dharma; moral courage is part of righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Rāvaṇa’s threats and boasts, Sītā begins her direct rebuke of him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage and satya-vākya (truthful speech) in the face of coercion.