वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-3, chapter-48, verse-6

कथं राजा स्थितो धर्मे परदारान्परामृशेत् ।
रक्षणीया विशेषेण राजदारा महाबलः ।
निवर्तय मतिं नीचां परदाराभिमर्शनम् ॥६॥

6. kathaṃ rājā sthito dharme paradārānparāmṛśet ,
rakṣaṇīyā viśeṣeṇa rājadārā mahābalaḥ ,
nivartaya matiṃ nīcāṃ paradārābhimarśanam.

6. katham rājā sthitaḥ dharme
paradārān parāmṛśet rakṣaṇīyā viśeṣeṇa
rājadārā mahābalaḥ nivartaya
matim nīcām paradārābhimarśanam

6. katham dharme sthitaḥ rājā paradārān parāmṛśet? mahābalaḥ (tvam),
rājadārā viśeṣeṇa rakṣaṇīyā (asti).
nīcām matim paradārābhimarśanam (idam) nivartaya.

6. How can a king, who is established in natural law (dharma), touch another's wife? The wife of a king, O immensely powerful one, must be especially protected. Therefore, abandon this base intention of touching another's wife.

Words meanings summery:

• कथम् (katham) - rhetorical question, 'how is it possible that...' (how, why, in what manner)

• राजा (rājā) - a king, referring to Rāma or any ideal king. (king, ruler)

• स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - steadfastly adhering to. (established, situated, standing)

• धर्मे (dharme) - in his duty and ethical conduct (dharma). (in natural law, in righteousness)

• परदारान् (paradārān) - Sītā, as Rāma's wife. (other men's wives, another's wife)

• परामृशेत् (parāmṛśet) - should seize or violate (another's wife). (should touch, should assault, should violate)

• रक्षणीया (rakṣaṇīyā) - the king's wife should be protected. (to be protected, should be protected)

• विशेषेण (viśeṣeṇa) - emphasizing the special need for protection. (especially, particularly, by distinction)

• राजदारा (rājadārā) - Sītā, as the wife of Rāma. (king's wife)

• महाबलः (mahābalaḥ) - O immensely powerful one (vocative, referring to Rāvaṇa). (immensely powerful, great-strength)

• निवर्तय (nivartaya) - abandon your intention. (turn back, desist, abandon)

• मतिम् (matim) - your current mindset or intention. (intention, thought, mind)

• नीचाम् (nīcām) - describing the intention as ignoble. (low, base, vile, mean)

• परदाराभिमर्शनम् (paradārābhimarśanam) - the act of seizing Sītā, who is another's wife. (the touching/violation of another's wife)

Words meanings and morphology

कथम् (katham) - rhetorical question, 'how is it possible that...' (how, why, in what manner)

(indeclinable)

Interrogative adverb.

राजा (rājā) - a king, referring to Rāma or any ideal king. (king, ruler)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler, sovereign

n-stem noun.

Root: rāj (class 1)

Note: Subject of parāmṛśet.

स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - steadfastly adhering to. (established, situated, standing)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sthita

sthita - stood, standing, situated, firm, abiding

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root sthā (to stand).

Root: sthā (class 1)

धर्मे (dharme) - in his duty and ethical conduct (dharma). (in natural law, in righteousness)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, intrinsic nature, constitution, righteousness, duty, virtue, justice

From root dhṛ (to uphold, support).

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Governed by sthitaḥ.

परदारान् (paradārān) - Sītā, as Rāma's wife. (other men's wives, another's wife)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of paradāra

paradāra - another's wife

Tatpuruṣa compound: para (other) + dāra (wife, usually plural masculine).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (para+dāra)

• para – other, another, supreme, highest
  adjective
• dāra – wife, wives
  noun (masculine)

Note: Object of parāmṛśet.

परामृशेत् (parāmṛśet) - should seize or violate (another's wife). (should touch, should assault, should violate)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of mṛś

Optative active

From root mṛś (to touch, seize) with prefix parā. Optative 3rd person singular.

Prefix: parā

Root: mṛś (class 6)

Note: Expresses 'should/would'.

रक्षणीया (rakṣaṇīyā) - the king's wife should be protected. (to be protected, should be protected)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of rakṣaṇīya

rakṣaṇīya - to be protected, worthy of protection

Gerundive (Nīya-pratyaya)

Derived from root rakṣ (to protect) with suffix -anīya. Feminine form.

Root: rakṣ (class 1)

Note: Agrees with rājadārā (interpreted as feminine singular).

विशेषेण (viśeṣeṇa) - emphasizing the special need for protection. (especially, particularly, by distinction)

(indeclinable)

From vi + śiṣ (to distinguish). Used as an adverb in instrumental case.

Root: śiṣ (class 7)

Note: Functions adverbially here.

राजदारा (rājadārā) - Sītā, as the wife of Rāma. (king's wife)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of rājadārā

rājadārā - king's wife

Tatpuruṣa compound: rājan (king) + dārā (wife). Interpreted as feminine singular here for agreement with rakṣaṇīyā.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (rājan+dārā)

• rājan – king, ruler
  noun (masculine)
  Root: rāj (class 1)
• dārā – wife
  noun (feminine)

Note: Subject of the implied verb 'is'.

महाबलः (mahābalaḥ) - O immensely powerful one (vocative, referring to Rāvaṇa). (immensely powerful, great-strength)

(adjective)

Vocative, masculine, singular of mahābala

mahābala - having great strength, very powerful

Bahuvrīhi compound: mahā (great) + bala (strength).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (mahā+bala)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective
  From mahat.
• bala – strength, power, force
  noun (neuter)

Note: Addressing Rāvaṇa.

निवर्तय (nivartaya) - abandon your intention. (turn back, desist, abandon)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of nivart

Imperative active

From root vṛt (to turn) with prefix ni. Causative stem form. Imperative 2nd person singular.

Prefix: ni

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Direct command to Rāvaṇa.

मतिम् (matim) - your current mindset or intention. (intention, thought, mind)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of mati

mati - thought, mind, intelligence, intention, opinion

From root man (to think). i-stem feminine noun.

Root: man (class 4)

Note: Object of nivartaya.

नीचाम् (nīcām) - describing the intention as ignoble. (low, base, vile, mean)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of nīca

nīca - low, humble, base, ignoble, despicable

Note: Agrees with matim.

परदाराभिमर्शनम् (paradārābhimarśanam) - the act of seizing Sītā, who is another's wife. (the touching/violation of another's wife)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of paradārābhimarśana

paradārābhimarśana - touching/assaulting another's wife

Tatpuruṣa compound: paradāra (another's wife) + abhimarśana (touching, violation).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (paradāra+abhimarśana)

• paradāra – another's wife
  noun (masculine)
  Compound: para (other) + dāra (wife, wives).
• abhimarśana – touching, seizing, assaulting, violating
  noun (neuter)
  Verbal noun
  From abhi + mṛś (to touch, seize).
  Prefix: abhi
  Root: mṛś (class 6)

Note: Can be seen as an apposition to matim, or the object of the verb nivartaya (abandon).