Shloka 19

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

नेह पश्यामि लोकेऽन्यं यो मे प्रतिबलो भवेत्।पश्य मे सुमहद्वीर्यमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमाहवे।।5.20.19।।

Transliteration

neha paśyāmi loke 'nyaṃ yo me pratibalo bhavet |

paśya me sumahad vīryam apratidvandvam āhave || 5.20.19 ||

Translation

In dieser Welt sehe ich keinen, der mir an Stärke ebenbürtig wäre. Schau meine gewaltige Kraft: im Kampf ohne Widerpart.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation particle

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (place)

• paśyāmi: I see
• paśyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• anyam: another
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; used substantively

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• me: my / to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic

• pratibalaḥ: a rival in strength
• pratibalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratibala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhavet: might be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/संभावना), तृतीयपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• paśya: see
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic

• su-mahat: very great
• su-mahat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (su + mahat = very great), agrees with vīryam

• vīryam: valor / power
• vīryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• apratidvandvam: unrivalled
• apratidvandvam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-prati-dvandva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण, agrees with vīryam

• āhave: in battle
• āhave: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Context

"I'm unrivalled in this entire world. Behold my matchless virility which permits no rivalin war.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• battle (āhava)

FAQs

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

The verse showcases pride and intimidation as persuasive tactics. Dharma warns that arrogance (mada) blinds judgment; true strength is aligned with righteousness, not used to threaten or dominate.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa asserts his invincibility to overawe Sītā, implying resistance is futile because no rival can defeat him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s courage and unwavering truthfulness are emphasized—she does not concede to intimidation, maintaining dharma despite fear-inducing claims.