Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 33

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा।गोकर्णीं हस्तिकर्णीं च लम्बकर्णीमकर्णिकाम्।।।।हस्तिपाद्यश्वपाद्यौ च गोपादीं पादचूलिकाम्।एकाक्षीमेकपादीं च पृथुपादीमपादिकाम्।।।।अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवामतिमात्रकुचोदरीम्।अतिमात्रास्यनेत्रां च दीर्घजिह्वामजिह्विकाम्।।।।अनासिकां सिंहमुखीं गोमुखीं सूकरीमुखीम्।

Transliteration

ekākṣīm eka-karṇāṃ ca karṇa-prāvaraṇāṃ tathā |

go-karṇīṃ hasti-karṇīṃ ca lamba-karṇīm akarṇikām ||

hasti-pādyaśva-pādyau ca go-pādīṃ pāda-cūlikām |

ekākṣīm eka-pādīṃ ca pṛthu-pādīm apādikām ||

ati-mātra-śiro-grīvām ati-mātra-kuca-odarīm |

ati-mātrāsya-netrāṃ ca dīrgha-jihvām ajihvikām ||

anāsikāṃ siṃha-mukhīṃ go-mukhīṃ sūkarī-mukhīm ||

Translation

มีนางรากษสีรูปร่างพิกลน่ากลัว: บ้างมีตาเดียว บ้างมีหูเดียว บ้างปิดหูไว้; บ้างมีหูดุจโค บ้างมีหูดุจช้าง บ้างมีหูยาวห้อยยาน และบ้างไร้หู; บ้างมีเท้าช้าง บ้างมีกีบม้า หรือกีบโค บ้างมีขนขึ้นที่เท้า; บ้างมีเท้าเดียว บ้างเท้ากว้าง และบ้างไร้เท้า; บ้างมีศีรษะและคอใหญ่เกินประมาณ บ้างมีถันและท้องใหญ่ยิ่ง; บ้างมีหน้าและตาใหญ่โต; บ้างมีลิ้นยาว บ้างไร้ลิ้น; บ้างไร้จมูก—บ้างหน้าสิงห์ หน้าวัว หรือหน้าหมูป่า

Word by Word

• ekākṣīm: one-eyed
• ekākṣīm: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekākṣī (प्रातिपदिक; eka + akṣi)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ekaṃ akṣi yasyaḥ = one-eyed (as descriptor of a rākṣasī)

• eka-karṇām: one-eared
• eka-karṇām: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekakarṇā (प्रातिपदिक; eka + karṇa)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• karṇa-prāvaraṇām: ear-covered
• karṇa-prāvaraṇām: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karṇaprāvaraṇā (प्रातिपदिक; karṇa + prāvaraṇa)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: karṇasya prāvaraṇam = ear-covering (one whose ear is covered)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (क्रियाविशेषण/निपात) meaning ‘likewise’

• go-karṇīm: cow-eared
• go-karṇīm: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gokarṇī (प्रातिपदिक; go + karṇa)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: goḥ karṇau iva karṇau yasyāḥ = cow-eared

• hasti-karṇīm: elephant-eared
• hasti-karṇīm: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hastikarṇī (प्रातिपदिक; hasti + karṇa)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); elephant-eared

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• lamba-karṇīm: long-eared
• lamba-karṇīm: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lambakarṇī (प्रातिपदिक; lamba + karṇa)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); long-eared

• a-karṇikām: earless
• a-karṇikām: Karma (कर्म/Object; in list)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akarṇikā (प्रातिपदिक; a- + karṇika)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); privative a-; ‘earless’

Context

Of them one had one eye, the other one ear, another with ears covered, one had the ear of a cow, another had ears of an elephant and yet another, long, hanging ears. One had the feet of an elephant, another, hoofs of a horse and still another of a cow. While one had a single foot, another had broad feet and yet another no feet at all. One had a long neck and a large head. One had large breasts and belly. One had a big face and eyes, another had a long tongue and yet another no tongue at all. One had no nose and still another had a lion face and yet another the face of a cow.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasīs (demonesses)

FAQs

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

The verse supports a dharmic contrast: adharma often surrounds itself with terror and intimidation. Dharma stands firm even when confronted by fear-inducing forces.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration describes the dreadful-looking rākṣasīs stationed around Sītā in Aśoka-vana, reinforcing the atmosphere of threat and confinement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadfastness (dhairya) are implied in Sītā’s endurance amid frightening guardians.