Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 1

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा परुषं राक्षसाधिपः।प्रत्युवाच ततः सीतां विप्रियं प्रियदर्शनाम्।।।।

Transliteration

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā paruṣaṃ rākṣasādhipaḥ |

pratyuvāca tataḥ sītāṃ vipriyaṃ priya-darśanām ||

Translation

ครั้นได้สดับถ้อยคำอันแข็งกร้าวของนางสีดาแล้ว จอมแห่งรากษสจึงตอบนางสีดาผู้มีรูปโฉมเป็นที่ชื่นตาด้วยวาจาอันไม่น่าฟัง

Word by Word

• सीतायाः: of Sita
• सीतायाः: Sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त); having heard

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying वचनम्; Accusative singular

• राक्षसाधिपः: lord of the rakshasas
• राक्षसाधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राक्षसानाम् अधिपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उप-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्णभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; Perfect, 3rd person singular, active

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक; indeclinable adverb (then)

• सीताम्: Sita (to Sita)
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• विप्रियम्: unpleasant
• विप्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective used adverbially/object-complement: unpleasant (words)

• प्रियदर्शनाम्: pleasing to behold
• प्रियदर्शनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय (प्रियं दर्शनं यस्याः/प्रियं दर्शनम्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying सीताम्; Accusative singular

Context

Hearing the sharp words of pleasing Sita, the lord of demons replied in unpleasant terms:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The narrative contrasts dharmic speech and adharmic response: truth may provoke hostility from those attached to wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Transition into Sarga 22: Rāvaṇa, stung by Sītā’s rebuke, prepares to answer her harshly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s moral force by implication—her truthful rebuke is strong enough to unsettle a tyrant.