Shloka 28

सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः

Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove

Devanagari script

वचनादेव तास्तस्य सुघोरा राक्षसीगणाः।कृतप्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा मैथिलीं पर्यवारयन्।।।।

Transliteration

vacanād eva tāstasya sughorā rākṣasīgaṇāḥ |

kṛtaprāñjalayo bhūtvā maithilīṃ paryavārayan ||

Translation

اس کے صرف فرمان دیتے ہی، نہایت ہولناک رाक्षسیوں کے جتھے نے ہاتھ جوڑ کر اطاعت ظاہر کی اور میتھلی (سیتا) کو گھیر لیا۔

Word by Word

• वचनात्: from (his) command
• वचनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ (because of the word/command)

• एव: indeed, immediately
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphasis)

• ताः: they (those women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him, his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सुघोराः: very dreadful
• सुघोराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; राक्षसीगणाः इति विशेषणम्

• राक्षसीगणाः: groups of demonesses
• राक्षसीगणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī+gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसीनां गणाः)

• कृतप्राञ्जलयः: with folded hands
• कृतप्राञ्जलयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta+prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कृतः प्राञ्जलिः येषाम्) = with folded hands

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• मैथिलीम्: Maithilī (Sītā)
• मैथिलीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पर्यवारयन्: surrounded
• पर्यवारयन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari+vṛ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: वृ (to cover/enclose) with causative/denominative sense in usage

Context

No sooner had Ravana said it than the dreadful demonesses offered obeisance to him with folded hands and surrounded Sita.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Maithilī)

FAQs

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

It highlights how adharma builds systems of fearful obedience: wrongdoing spreads when subordinates execute cruel orders without moral discernment.

What is the narrative situation?

The demonesses immediately comply with Rāvaṇa’s command and encircle Sītā, tightening her captivity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s composure under intimidation is foregrounded by the hostile circle closing around her.