Shloka 23

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

प्रतिकर्माभिसंयुक्ता दाक्षिण्येन वरानने।भुंक्ष्व भोगान्यथाकामं पिब भीरु रमस्व च।।5.20.23।।

Transliteration

pratikarmābhisaṃyuktā dākṣiṇyena varānane | bhuṅkṣva bhogān yathākāmaṃ piba bhīru ramasva ca || 5.20.23 ||

Translation

O Schönangesichtige, reich geschmückt und voller Anmut: genieße die Freuden nach deinem Wunsch — iss, trink und ergötze dich, o scheue Frau.

Word by Word

• yatheṣṭam: as you wish
• yatheṣṭam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; adverb 'as desired/at will'

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

• prayaccha: grant / give
• prayaccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yam (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• pṛthivīm: the earth
• pṛthivīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; disjunctive particle (or)

• dhanāni: wealths
• dhanāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• lalasva: enjoy / play
• lalasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lal (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• mayi: with me / in me
• mayi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• visrabdhā: trusting / unrestrained
• visrabdhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-śrambh (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; used predicatively to tvam

• dhṛṣṭam: boldly
• dhṛṣṭam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (accusative used adverbially): 'boldly'

• ājñāpayasva: command
• ājñāpayasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-jñā (धातु, causative/णिच्)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; णिजन्त (causative): 'cause to know/command'

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

Context

"O charming lady! decorate yourself liberally. Enjoy these pleasures as you please.Drink and make merry.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Temptation through luxury is shown as ethically hollow when it seeks to override truth and marital fidelity. Dharma values integrity over indulgence gained by wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa attempts to entice Sītā with comfort and sensual enjoyment to make her abandon Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s renunciation and fidelity: she refuses pleasure that is rooted in adharma and betrayal.