Shloka 16

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

तथेत्युक्त्वा च तां रामः कैकेयीमकुतोभयः।।3.47.16।।चकार तद्वचस्तस्या मम भर्ता दृढव्रतः।

Transliteration

tathety uktvā ca tāṃ rāmaḥ kaikeyīm akutobhayaḥ ||3.47.16|| cakāra tad vacas tasyā mama bhartā dṛḍhavrataḥ |

Translation

罗摩无所畏惧、誓愿坚固，对凯凯伊答道：“如是。”随即遵行了她的话。

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• इति: thus (quoting)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having said’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• कैकेयीम्: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• अकुतोभयः: fearless (from any quarter)
• अकुतोभयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kutaḥ-bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of रामः)

• चकार: did, carried out
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वचः)

• वचः: word(s), command
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• दृढव्रतः: firm in vow, resolute
• दृढव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of भर्ता/रामः)

Context

O brahmin! this is his firm resolve and his great vow: 'One should give and never take; one should speak the truth and nothing but he truth.'

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kaikeyi
• Sita

FAQs

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

Unwavering obedience to righteous obligation: Rāma accepts the command without fear, showing dharma as steadfast action, not merely belief.

What is the narrative situation?

Upon hearing Kaikeyī’s demands, Rāma immediately agrees (“tatheti”) and proceeds to fulfill them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dṛḍha-vrata (firm resolve) and fearlessness in upholding duty.