Shloka 10

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

तां तर्ज्यमानां सम्प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण जानकीम्।देवगन्धर्वकन्यास्ता विषेदुर्विकृतेक्षणाः।।।।

Transliteration

tāṃ tarjyamānāṃ samprekṣya rākṣasendreṇa jānakīm |

devagandharvakanyās tā viṣedur vikṛtekṣaṇāḥ ||

Translation

Nang makita si Jānakī na tinatakot ng hari ng mga rākṣasa, nagdalamhati ang mga dalaga ng mga deva at Gandharva, at nabalisa sa pighati ang kanilang mga mata.

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; refers to Jānakīm/Sītā

• tarjyamānām: being threatened
• tarjyamānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarjyamāna (कृदन्त; √tarj धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), कर्मणि प्रयोग; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifying tām

• samprekṣya: having seen
• samprekṣya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prekṣ (धातु) with sam- + ktvā
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); 'having observed'

• rākṣasa-indreṇa: by the demon-king
• rākṣasa-indreṇa: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष = rākṣasānām indraḥ

• jānakīm: Janaki
• jānakīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; apposition to tām

• deva-gandharva-kanyāḥ: daughters of gods and gandharvas
• deva-gandharva-kanyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; (deva-gandharvayoḥ kanyāḥ)

• tāḥ: those (women)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; refers to kanyāḥ

• viṣeduḥ: became despondent
• viṣeduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ṣad (धातु) with vi-
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• vikṛta-īkṣaṇāḥ: with distressed eyes
• vikṛta-īkṣaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि = 'those whose eyes are distorted/anguished'

Context

Observing Janaki, threatened by the demon king the daughters of gods and gandharvas shed tears with distressful eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Jānakī (Sītā)
• Rākṣasendra (Rāvaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected through compassion and moral sensitivity: righteous beings (even as onlookers) respond with grief when adharma—threatening a virtuous woman—is committed.

What is the narrative situation?

In Aśoka-vana, Rāvaṇa threatens Sītā; celestial maidens present there witness it and become sorrowful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and moral discernment in the onlookers—recognizing wrongdoing and reacting with sincere distress.