Shloka 40

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

नैष वारयितुं शक्यस्तव क्रूरो निशाचरः।।3.49.40।।सत्त्वाञ्जितकाशी च सायुधश्चैव दुर्मतिः।

Transliteration

naiṣa vārayituṃ śakyas tava krūro niśācaraḥ || 3.49.40 ||

sattvān jita-kāśī ca sāyudhaś caiva durmatiḥ |

Translation

Tên dạ-xoa đi đêm hung bạo ấy, ngươi không thể ngăn cản được; hắn đầy sức mạnh, từng thắng trận, mang vũ khí, và tâm địa tà ác.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वारयितुम्: to restrain/prevent
• वारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• शक्यः: possible (to be)
• शक्यः: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śak (धातु)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (potential adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘possible/able’

• तव: by you/for you (your)
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• क्रूरः: cruel
• क्रूरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निशाचरः: night-ranger (rākṣasa)
• निशाचरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā-cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (निशायां चरति)

• सत्त्वान्: strength, vigor
• सत्त्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘strength/spirits’ (as object of implied possession/quality)

• जितकाशी: radiant/victorious in splendor
• जितकाशी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita-kāśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कान्तिं/तेजः जितः इव = having conquered radiance; traditional epithet)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सायुधः: armed
• सायुधः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्मिन् आयुधं अस्ति = armed)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• दुर्मतिः: evil-minded one
• दुर्मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur-mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दुष्टा मतिः)

Context

I can obstruct the Sun and shatter the earth with my sharp arrows. O mad woman! I am a husband who can fulfil your desires, and can assume any form at my own free will. Look at me.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Practical wisdom within dharma: recognizing the strength of adharma is not surrender, but clear-eyed truth that prepares righteous action and responsible strategy.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, seeing Jaṭāyu, cries out about Rāvaṇa’s power and the danger of opposing him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s realism and concern for an ally’s safety—an ethical caution even while seeking help.