Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 18

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

साधु रावण रामेण मां समानय दुःखिताम्।।।।वने वाशितया सार्धं करेण्वेव गजाधिपम्।

Transliteration

sādhu rāvaṇa rāmeṇa māṃ samānaya duḥkhitām | vane vāśitayā sārdhaṃ kareṇv eva gajādhipam ||

Translation

行正道吧，罗波那——将我这悲苦之人送回罗摩身边，如同在林中使离散的母象与威严的象王重聚。

Word by Word

• sādhu: well/please (do)
• sādhu: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (अव्यय)
• Form: Interjection/approving particle (प्रशंसा-निपात)

• rāvaṇa: O Ravana
• rāvaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāmeṇa: with Rama
• rāmeṇa: Saha (सह/साकं-अर्थे तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samānaya: unite/bring together
• samānaya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nī (धातु) + sam (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• duḥkhitām: grieving
• duḥkhitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies mām

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāśitayā: with the separated one (living apart)
• vāśitayā: Saha (सह/साकं-अर्थे तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāśita (कृदन्त, √vas/√vāś?; here sense "separated/dwelling apart")
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); used with sārdham = "together with"

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle meaning "together with" (सह-अर्थक-अव्यय)

• kareṇv: a female elephant
• kareṇv: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kareṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-निपात)

• gaja-adhipam: lord of elephants (male elephant)
• gaja-adhipam: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"गजानाम् अधिपः"

Context

"O Ravana! it is proper for you to unite me in distress with Rama as one would unite a female elephant with the lordly elephant from which it is separated in the wilderness.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Restoring what was wrongfully taken is dharma; repentance is shown through restitution—returning Sītā to her rightful husband.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā urges Rāvaṇa to end the adharma of abduction by reuniting her with Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate firmness—Sītā demands justice while still offering Rāvaṇa a dharmic path.