Shloka 23

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

दर्शने माकृथा बुद्धिं राघवस्य वरानने।कास्य शक्तिरिहागन्तुमपि सीते मनोरथैः।।3.55.23।।

Transliteration

darśane mā kṛthā buddhiṃ rāghavasya varānane |

kāsya śaktir ihāgantum api sīte manorathaiḥ ||3.55.23||

Translation

Richte nicht einmal deinen Sinn, o Sītā mit dem schönen Antlitz, auf ein Wiedersehen mit Rāghava. Welche Macht hätte er, hierher zu gelangen—selbst nur in der Vorstellung?

Word by Word

• दर्शने: in (the matter of) seeing
• दर्शने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (locative singular)

• मा: do not
• मा: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive particle, used with imperative/optative)

• कृथाः: make; entertain
• कृथाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; रूपम्: कृ + थाः

• बुद्धिम्: thought; intention
• बुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (accusative singular)

• राघवस्य: of Raghava (Rama)
• राघवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive singular)

• वरानने: O fair-faced one
• वरानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ‘वरम् आननं यस्याः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (vocative singular)

• का: what? which? (where is)
• का: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nominative singular)

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive singular: of him)

• शक्तिः: power; ability
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nominative singular)

• इह: here
• इह: Desha (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• आगन्तुम्: to come
• आगन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• सीते: O Sita
• सीते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन

• मनोरथैः: by wishes; by desires
• मनोरथैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

Context

O lovely Sita, give up the thought of seeing Rama. Where does he possess the power to reach this place even on the mental plane ?

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāghava (Rāma)

FAQs

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

Dharma resists coercion and despair. The verse depicts an unethical attempt to sever hope and loyalty through intimidation and false impossibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa tries to make Sītā abandon hope of reunion with Rāma by claiming Rāma cannot reach her at all.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fortitude (dhairya) and unwavering trust in righteousness are the virtues being tested.