Shloka 49

सीतारावणसंवादः

Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

Devanagari script

इतीव तद्वाक्यमदुष्टभावा सुदुष्टमुक्त्वा रजनीचरं तम्।गात्रप्रकम्पाद्व्यथिता बभूव वातोद्धता सा कदलीव तन्वी।।3.47.49।।

Transliteration

itīva tad-vākyam aduṣṭa-bhāvā suduṣṭam uktvā rajanīcaraṃ tam | gātra-prakampād vyathitā babhūva vātoddhatā sā kadalīva tanvī || 3.47.49 ||

Translation

她如此严厉地斥责那邪恶的夜行者之后，心地纯净的悉多因四肢战栗而忧惧不安，宛如纤细的芭蕉被狂风摇撼。

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (इव = as if)

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally, Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; qualifies 'vākyam'

• vākyam: speech, words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• aduṣṭa-bhāvā: of pure/untainted disposition
• aduṣṭa-bhāvā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-duṣṭa + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) adjective; Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; qualifies 'sā' (Sītā)

• suduṣṭam: very harsh/very wicked (words)
• suduṣṭam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya/Upapada-like intensifier; Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; adverbial use qualifying 'uktvā' (having spoken harshly)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) → uktvā (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal; prior action

• rajanīcaram: the night-ranger (rākṣasa)
• rajanīcaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanīcara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• tam: him
• tam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally, Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; refers to Rāvaṇa

• gātra-prakampāt: from bodily trembling
• gātra-prakampāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gātra + prakampa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'trembling of limbs'; Masculine, Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular

• vyathitā: distressed, pained
• vyathitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vyath (धातु) → vyathita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; predicate adjective of 'sā'

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• vāta-uddhatā: shaken/raised by wind
• vāta-uddhatā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāta + uddhata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies 'sā'

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• kadalī: banana plant
• kadalī: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kadalī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; upamāna with 'iva'

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle

• tanvī: slender
• tanvī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tanvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; epithet of Sītā

Context

Having said thus to the wicked night-walker Ravana, Sita, pure in thought remained distressed.Her slender body started trembling like a banana plant becomes shaken by a violent wind.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• rajanīcara (rākṣasa/night-walker)

FAQs

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

Even amid fear and bodily trembling, dharma is shown as inner purity and refusal to abandon righteous resolve.

What is the narrative situation?

After replying to Rāvaṇa, Sītā’s body trembles from shock and danger, though her intention remains steadfast.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral purity (aduṣṭa-bhāva) and resilience: her body shakes, but her ethical stance does not collapse.