Shloka 39

सीताभर्त्सना

The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

Devanagari script

ततश्चण्डोदरी नाम राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता।भ्रामयन्ती महच्छूलमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।5.24.39।।

Transliteration

tataś caṇḍodarī nāma rākṣasī krodhamūrchitā |

bhrāmayantī mahacchūlam idaṃ vacanam abravīt ||5.24.39||

Translation

Bấy giờ nữ La-sát tên Caṇḍodarī, ngất lịm vì cơn thịnh nộ, vừa xoay vần cây đinh ba lớn vừa cất lời rằng:

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb): 'thereafter/then'

• caṇḍodarī: Chandodarī (name)
• caṇḍodarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍodarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'by name/called'

• rākṣasī: ogress
• rākṣasī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; apposition to caṇḍodarī

• krodha-mūrchitā: overcome with anger
• krodha-mūrchitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrchita (कृदन्त; मूर्छ् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past participle (क्त) 'mūrchita' = overcome; qualifies rākṣasī

• bhrāmayantī: whirling/rotating
• bhrāmayantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhram (भ्रम् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'while causing to whirl/rotating'

• mahat-śūlam: a huge trident/spear
• mahat-śūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; deictic pronoun qualifying vacanam

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Context

Next spoke a fierce-looking ogress called Chandodari, overcome with anger taking up a huge trident and rotating.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā (implied scene context)
• śūla (trident)

FAQs

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

The narration marks how anger drives violent intent. In dharma ethics, krodha (anger) clouds judgment and leads to adharma—harmful speech and action.

What is the narrative situation?

The scene shifts to identify a specific rākṣasī, Caṇḍodarī, as she prepares to threaten Sītā more aggressively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, Sītā’s composure and restraint stand out against the rākṣasī’s rage-driven behavior.