Shloka 35

रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः

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

Devanagari script

एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा।गोकर्णीं हस्तिकर्णीं च लम्बकर्णीमकर्णिकाम्।।5.22.33।।हस्तिपाद्यश्वपाद्यौ च गोपादीं पादचूलिकाम्।एकाक्षीमेकपादीं च पृथुपादीमपादिकाम्।।5.22.34।।अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवामतिमात्रकुचोदरीम्।अतिमात्रास्यनेत्रां च दीर्घजिह्वामजिह्विकाम्।।5.22.35।।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

وہاں بدہیئت راکشسیاں تھیں: کوئی ایک آنکھ والی، کوئی ایک کان والی، کوئی کان ڈھانپنے والی؛ کوئی گائے جیسے کانوں والی، کوئی ہاتھی جیسے کانوں والی، کوئی لمبے لٹکتے کانوں والی، اور کوئی بے کان؛ کوئی ہاتھی کے پاؤں والی، کوئی گھوڑے کے کھروں والی، کوئی گائے کے کھروں والی، کوئی پاؤں پر بالوں والی؛ کوئی ایک پاؤں والی، کوئی چوڑے پاؤں والی، اور کوئی بے پاؤں؛ کوئی حد سے بڑے سر اور گردن والی، کوئی حد سے بڑے سینے اور پیٹ والی؛ کوئی حد سے بڑے چہرے اور آنکھوں والی؛ کوئی لمبی زبان والی، کوئی بے زبان؛ کوئی بے ناک—کوئی شیر مُنہ، کوئی گائے مُنہ، کوئی سور مُنہ والی۔

Word by Word

ati-mātra-śiro-grīvāmwith an excessively huge head and neck

ati-mātra-kuca-udarīmwith huge breasts and belly

ati-mātra-āsya-netrāmwith huge face and eyes

caand

dīrgha-jihvāmlong-tongued

a-jihvikāmtongueless

a-nāsikāmnoseless

siṃha-mukhīmlion-faced

go-mukhīmcow-faced

sūkarī-mukhīmboar-faced

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.