Shloka 3.46.2

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

Devanagari script

तदासाद्य दशग्रीवः क्षिप्रमन्तरमास्थितः।अभिचक्राम वैदेहीं परिव्राजकरूपधृक्।।।।

Transliteration

viśālaṃ jaghanaṃ pīnam ūrū karikaropamau || 3.46.18 || etāv upacitau vṛttau saṃhatau sampravalgitau | pīnon natamukhau kāntau snigdhau tālaphalopamau || 3.46.19 || maṇipravekābharaṇau rucirau te payodharau |

Translation

This recension repeats the same praise: your hips and thighs are full and powerful, and your breasts—rounded, close-set, heavy, smooth like palm-fruits, and gem-adorned—appear especially charming.

Context

The ten-headed Ravana who was in hiding assumed the guise of a wandering mendicant and approached Sita.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (implied addressee)

FAQs

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

It reinforces how adharma can operate through speech—praise that manipulates and reduces a person to physical attributes, conflicting with respectful conduct and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues his attempt to seduce Sītā through repeated flattering description.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is restraint and respect in speech (vāg-dharma); the verse shows its opposite in Rāvaṇa’s conduct.