Shloka 21

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

इच्छ मां क्रियतामद्य प्रतिकर्म तवोत्तमम्।।5.20.21।।सप्रभाण्यवसज्यन्तां तवाङ्गे भूषणानि च।साधु पश्यामि ते रूपं संयुक्तं प्रतिकर्मणा।।5.20.22।।

Transliteration

iccha māṃ kriyatām adya pratikarma tavottamam || 5.20.21 ||

Translation

Begehre mich; heute soll dir das erquicklichste, höchste Schmuckwerk bereitet werden.

Word by Word

• iccha: desire / love
• iccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• kriyatām: let (it) be done
• kriyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'let it be done'

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (time)

• pratikarma: adornment / toilette
• pratikarma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratikarma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as subject of passive kriyatām

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• uttamam: best
• uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with pratikarma

• saprabhāṇi: radiant
• saprabhāṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि 'having radiance' used as adjective of bhūṣaṇāni

• avasajyantām: let (them) be put on
• avasajyantām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-sañj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद; 'let them be fastened/worn'

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• aṅge: on (your) body
• aṅge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• bhūṣaṇāni: ornaments
• bhūṣaṇāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• sādhu: well / pleasingly
• sādhu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (well/pleasantly)

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

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic

• rūpam: form / beauty
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• saṃyuktam: adorned / joined
• saṃyuktam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-yuj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with rūpam

• pratikarmaṇā: by adornment
• pratikarmaṇā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratikarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

Context

"Offer your love to me. Get yourself decorated in an excellent way. Wear glowing ornaments on your limbs. Let me see you in pleasingly decorated form.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is violated when love is demanded rather than freely given. The Ramayana treats compelled affection as unrighteous and destructive.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa shifts from intimidation to seduction, ordering Sītā to prepare herself and accept him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s chastity and loyalty (pativratā-dharma) stand in opposition to such coercive demands.