Shloka 3.46.14

रावणस्य परिव्राजकवेषेण सीतासमीपगमनम् (Ravana Approaches Sita Disguised as a Mendicant)

Devanagari script

तामुत्तमां स्त्रियं लोके पद्महीनामिव श्रियम्।।।।विभ्राजमानां वपुषा रावणः प्रशशंस ह।

Transliteration

tām uttamāṃ striyaṃ loke padmahīnām iva śriyam | vibhrājamānāṃ vapuṣā rāvaṇaḥ praśaśaṃsa ha || 3.46.14 ||

Translation

Seeing her shining with beauty—the finest woman in the world, like Śrī (Lakṣmī) without her lotus—Rāvaṇa praised her.

Context

Sita was the most lovely lady of the world shining in beauty. She was like the goddess of wealth (Laxmi) without her lotus. Ravana praised her thus:

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Śrī/Lakṣmī
• padma (lotus)

FAQs

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

Dharma discerns between genuine reverence and manipulative flattery: praise used as a tool for wrongdoing is speech divorced from satya and moral intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa begins to entice and unsettle Sītā by praising her extraordinary beauty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s exceptional dignity and auspiciousness are spotlighted, even as the verse exposes Rāvaṇa’s morally corrupt gaze.