Valmiki Ramayana 5.21.1: Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 1

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सीता रौद्रस्य रक्षसः।आर्ता दीनस्वरा दीनं प्रत्युवाच शनैर्वचः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 5.21.1

Transliteration

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā sītā raudrasya rakṣasaḥ |

ārtā dīnasvarā dīnaṃ pratyuvāca śanair vacaḥ ||5.21.1||

Translation

ครั้นได้ฟังถ้อยคำของยักษ์ผู้ดุร้ายแล้ว สีตาผู้ทุกข์ระทม เสียงแผ่วด้วยความเศร้า จึงตอบกลับอย่างช้า ๆ ด้วยถ้อยคำอันน่าเวทนา

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Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th, Genitive), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; 'having heard'

• सीता: Sita
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• रौद्रस्य: of the fierce/angry
• रौद्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying रक्षसः)

• रक्षसः: of the demon
• रक्षसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• आर्ता: distressed
• आर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सीता)

• दीन-स्वरा: with a sorrowful voice
• दीन-स्वरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दीनः स्वरः यस्याः सा

• दीनम्: pitiable
• दीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वचः)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Context

On hearing the demon's haughty words, oppressed, pitiable Sita replied slowly in a sorrowful tone.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• rākṣasa (Rāvaṇa implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes steadfastness under oppression: Sītā’s composed reply, even while suffering, models restraint and moral courage.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāvaṇa’s threats and temptations, the narration turns to Sītā’s response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s endurance (kṣānti) and dignity in suffering are foregrounded.