Shloka 9

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

स परिव्राजकच्छद्म महाकायो विहाय तत्।।3.49.8।।प्रतिपद्य स्वकं रूपं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः।संरक्तनयनः क्रोधाज्जीमूतनिचयप्रभः।।3.49.9।।रक्ताम्बरधरस्तस्थौ स्त्रीरत्नं प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम्।

Transliteration

saṅraktanayanaḥ krodhāj jīmūtanicayaprabhaḥ || 3.49.9 ||

raktāmbaradharas tasthau strīratnaṁ prekṣya maithilīm |

Translation

ดวงตาแดงฉานด้วยโทสะ รัศมีดุจกองเมฆพายุ เขายืนสวมอาภรณ์สีแดง จ้องมองไมถิลี—สีดา ผู้เป็นแก้วมณีแห่งสตรีทั้งปวง

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• असितकेशान्ताम्: with black hair
• असितकेशान्ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित + केशान्त (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ('she whose hair-ends are black')

• भास्करस्य: of the sun
• भास्करस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रभाम्: radiance
• प्रभाम्: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• वसनाभरणोपेताम्: adorned with garments and ornaments
• वसनाभरणोपेताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसन + आभरण + उपेत (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त (past participle) 'उपेत'; तत्पुरुष ('endowed with clothes and ornaments')

• मैथिलीम्: Maithili (Sita)
• मैथिलीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथिली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Ravana, chief of the demons, shed the mendicant's form and assumed his real self. Clad in red garments, his eyes turned red in anger. Looking like layers of clouds, he stood in front of Sita, a gem among women.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Maithilī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

The verse frames Sītā as worthy of reverence and protection; to confront her with anger and predatory intent is a breach of dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, now undisguised, stands before Sītā and fixes his gaze upon her, setting the stage for coercion and abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dignity and moral worth are emphasized (strīratna); her presence functions as a standard against which adharma is exposed.