Shloka 12

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

ताभिराश्वासिता सीता रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्।उवाचात्महितं वाक्यं वृत्तशौण्डीर्यगर्वितम्।।।।

Transliteration

tābhir āśvāsitā sītā rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam |uvāca ātmahitaṃ vākyaṃ vṛttaśauṇḍīryagarvitam ||

Translation

ان کے دلاسے سے تقویت پا کر سیتا نے راون، راکشسوں کے ادھیپتی، سے اپنی حفاظت کے لیے مفید کلام کہا—ایسا کلام جو سچّی سیرت سے جنمی بے خوف وقار کے غرور سے بھرپور تھا۔

Word by Word

• tābhiḥ: by them
• tābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• āśvāsitā: consoled
• āśvāsitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśvāsita (कृदन्त; causative of √śvas)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; passive sense 'having been consoled'

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• rāvaṇam: Ravana
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• rākṣasa-adhipam: lord of demons
• rākṣasa-adhipam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ātmahitam: for her own good
• ātmahitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (कृदन्त; √dhā/√hi?) as adjective 'beneficial'
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifying vākyam; तत्पुरुष = ātmanaḥ hitam

• vākyam: speech; words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• vṛtta-śauṇḍīrya-garvitam: proud with steadfast valor
• vṛtta-śauṇḍīrya-garvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक) + śauṇḍīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + garvita (कृदन्त; √garv धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; qualifying vākyam; compound sense: 'proud because of (her) conduct and valor' (instrumental/causal tatpurusha)

Context

Having thus been consoled, Sita, proud of the power of her virtues, said this to Ravana in self-defence:

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here is steadfastness in truth and virtue: Sītā’s moral strength becomes her defense, enabling fearless speech against injustice.

What is the narrative situation?

After being consoled, Sītā begins her direct rebuke of Rāvaṇa in Aśoka-vana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage (śaurya grounded in vṛtta): bravery rooted in purity of conduct rather than physical power.