Valmiki Ramayana 5.21.6: Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 6

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

नाहमौपयिकी भार्या परभार्या सती तव।।।।साधु धर्ममवेक्षस्व साधु साधुव्रतं चर।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 5.21.6

Transliteration

nāham aupayikī bhāryā parabhāryā satī tava |

sādhu dharmam avekṣasva sādhu sādhu-vrataṃ cara ||

Translation

ข้ามิอาจเป็นภรรยาที่เจ้าจะได้มาด้วยกำลังตน; ข้าเป็นภรรยาชอบธรรมของผู้อื่น เป็นสตรีผู้สัตย์ซื่อบริสุทธิ์. โอ้ราชา จงพิจารณาธรรมให้ถูกต้อง และประพฤติพรตอันชอบธรรมอย่างแท้จริง

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Word by Word

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

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• औपयिकी: one to be obtained/appropriate (by effort)
• औपयिकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औपयिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying भार्या)

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

• पर-भार्या: another's wife
• पर-भार्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'परस्य भार्या'

• सती: chaste/virtuous
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (chaste/virtuous)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• साधु: properly
• साधु: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (well/properly)

• धर्मम्: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अवेक्षस्व: consider/examine
• अवेक्षस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• साधु: well
• साधु: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• साधु-व्रतम्: a righteous vow/conduct
• साधु-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'साधूनां व्रतम्' / 'साधु व्रतम्'

• चर: practise/follow
• चर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

"Even if you fly to Kubera's mountain (Kailasa) or the residence of king Varuna (ocean) you will not escape Rama's arrows like a mighty tree cannot evade lightning.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ēkaviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Dharma

FAQs

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

Respect for marriage and consent: taking another’s spouse is adharma; rulers especially must align desire with righteous law.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā directly denies the legitimacy of Rāvaṇa’s claim and exhorts him to self-correct as a king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and chastity—Sītā states her status plainly and stands firm.