Shloka 36

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

कुसुमिततरुजालसन्ततानि भ्रमरयुतानि समुद्रतीरजानि।कनकविमलहारभूषिताङ्गी विहर मया सह भीरु काननानि।।5.20.36।।

Transliteration

kusumitatarujālasantatāni bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni | kanakavimalahārabhūṣitāṅgī vihara mayā saha bhīru kānanāni || 5.20.36 ||

Translation

In den Hainen am Meeresufer — wo sich blühende Baumreihen erstrecken, erfüllt von Bienen — du, geschmückt mit einer reinen goldenen Halskette, wandle mit mir, o scheue Dame.

Word by Word

• कुसुमित-तरु-जाल-सन्ततानि: stretches continuous with nets/groups of blossoming trees
• कुसुमित-तरु-जाल-सन्ततानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुसुमित (कृदन्त) + तरु (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• भ्रमर-युतानि: accompanied by bees
• भ्रमर-युतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रमर (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• समुद्र-तीर-जानि: born on the seashore
• समुद्र-तीर-जानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• कनक-विमल-हार-भूषित-अङ्गी: O lady whose limbs are adorned with a pure golden necklace
• कनक-विमल-हार-भूषित-अङ्गी: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + विमल (प्रातिपदिक) + हार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त) + अङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्याः अङ्गानि ... भूषितानि सा' (one whose limbs are adorned...)

• विहर: enjoy / roam
• विहर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विहर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मया: by/with me
• मया: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd, Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह-प्रयोगः (postposition meaning 'with')

• भीरु: O timid one
• भीरु: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• काननानि: forest-groves
• काननानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

Context

"O Sita! no human or demon. who can take any form at their will can relieve your fear born of me.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• samudra (sea)

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches that beauty and pleasure cannot cleanse wrongdoing; enticing imagery is used to mask coercion, but satya and righteousness remain the measure of what is acceptable.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa concludes his persuasive sequence with a vivid invitation to sensual enjoyment in idyllic seaside groves.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s unwavering chastity and commitment to truth: she does not let sensory allure distract her from dharma.