Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 20

सरमायाḥ सीतासान्त्वनम् तथा रावणनिश्चयश्रवणम्

Saarana Consoles Sita and Reports Ravana’s Resolve

Devanagari script

जनन्याराक्षसेन्द्रोवैत्वन्मोक्षार्थंबृहद्वचः ।अविद्धेनचवैदेहिमन्त्रिवृद्धेनबोधितः ।।6.33.20।।

Transliteration

jananyā rākṣasendro vai tvanmokṣārthaṃ bṛhadvacaḥ | aviddhena ca vaidehi mantrivṛddhena bodhitaḥ ||

Translation

โอ้ไวเทหี! จอมแห่งรากษสถูกมารดาของตนและอวิทธะ มนตรีชราผู้รอบรู้ ตักเตือนเร่งรัดอย่างจริงจังและยืดยาว เพื่อให้ปล่อยเจ้าเป็นอิสระ

Word by Word

• जनन्या: by (his) mother
• जनन्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• राक्षसेन्द्रः: the lord of rākṣasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः (lord of rākṣasas)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• त्वत्: your
• त्वत्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive) एकवचन-आदेशरूप (tvat-), समासपूर्वपद

• मोक्षार्थम्: for (your) release
• मोक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: मोक्षाय अर्थः (for the sake of release)

• बृहद्वचः: great words, weighty counsel
• बृहद्वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहत् + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: बृहद् वचः (great/weighty words)

• अविद्धेन: by Aviddha
• अविद्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक

• वैदेहि: O Vaidehī
• वैदेहि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• मन्त्रिवृद्धेन: by the aged minister
• मन्त्रिवृद्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् + वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: वृद्धः मन्त्रि (aged minister)

• बोधितः: was advised
• बोधितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु) + णिच् + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राक्षसेन्द्रः विशेष्य: "was advised/instructed"

Context

"O Vaidehi! Ravana's mother Kaikasi and the aged minister Aviddha advised the Lord of Rakshasas to release you."

Characters & Entities

• Saramā
• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Rāvaṇa
• Aviddha (aged minister)

FAQs

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

It highlights the dharma of counsel: elders advise a ruler toward righteous restraint—releasing the innocent rather than persisting in adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Saramā reports that internal voices—Rāvaṇa’s mother and an aged minister—attempted to persuade him to free Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of wise admonition (hitopadeśa): elders speak frankly for the sake of right action and public good.