Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 19

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

मित्रमौपयिकं कर्तुं रामः स्थानं परीप्सता।।।।वधं चानिच्छता घोरं त्वयासौ पुरुषर्षभः।

Transliteration

mitram aupayikaṃ kartuṃ rāmaḥ sthānaṃ parīpsatā | vadhaṃ cānicchatā ghoraṃ tvayāsau puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

罗摩——人中雄牛——若你追求合宜之道、愿避可怖之死，他必愿与你结成正当的友谊。

Word by Word

• mitram: friendship/alliance
• mitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• aupayikam: proper/suitable
• aupayikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aupayika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies mitram

• kartum: to make/do
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुनन्त)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sthānam: proper course/right way
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial accusative "properly/in the right way"

• parīpsatā: desiring to secure (proper conduct)
• parīpsatā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √āp (धातु) + pari (उपसर्ग) + san (सन्, desiderative)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/परस्मैपदी), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); Masculine; "by (him) desiring to obtain/secure"

• vadham: killing/death
• vadham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• anicchatā: not wishing
• anicchatā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √iṣ (धातु) + a- (नञ्) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); Masculine; "by (him) not wishing"

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies vadham

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• asau: that (man)/he
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• puruṣa-ṛṣabhaḥ: bull among men, best of men
• puruṣa-ṛṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"पुरुषाणाम् ऋषभः"

Context

"I wish you to build friendship with Rama, the bull among men. Surely it is the right thing for you to do, if you are desirous of avoiding a dreadful death.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Nīti aligned with dharma: choose reconciliation and the right course over stubborn adharma that leads to destruction.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā counsels Rāvaṇa that Rāma is capable of peace and proper alliance if Rāvaṇa turns away from wrongdoing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and moral counsel—Sītā offers a path to avert violence through righteous action.