Shloka 22

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

saprabhāṇy avasajyantāṃ tavāṅge bhūṣaṇāni ca | sādhu paśyāmi te rūpaṃ saṃyuktaṃ pratikarmaṇā || 5.20.22 ||

Translation

Mögen strahlende Schmuckstücke deine Glieder zieren; ich wünsche, deine Schönheit zu schauen, wohlgeschmückt mit Zierat.

Word by Word

• pratikarma-abhisaṃyuktā: adorned
• pratikarma-abhisaṃyuktā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratikarma (प्रातिपदिक) + abhi-sam-yuj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'adorned with decoration'

• dākṣiṇyena: with generosity / graciousness
• dākṣiṇyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dākṣiṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• varānane: O fair-faced one
• varānane: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara-ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (beautiful + face)

• bhuṅkṣva: enjoy / partake
• bhuṅkṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• bhogān: pleasures
• bhogān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• yathākāmam: as you please
• yathākāmam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; adverb 'according to desire/as you wish'

• piba: drink
• piba: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• bhīru: O timid one
• bhīru: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• ramasva: sport / enjoy
• ramasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

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

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?

The verse demonstrates adharma through objectification: a person is treated as an object of display rather than as a moral agent deserving autonomy and respect.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa instructs Sītā to wear ornaments and present herself attractively, continuing his coercive persuasion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s inner steadfastness is emphasized implicitly—her worth is not dependent on ornamentation, and she resists being reduced to an object.