Shloka 3.55.17

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम् (Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita)

Devanagari script

बहूनांस्त्रीसहस्राणां मम योऽसौ परिग्रहः।तासां त्वमीश्वरा सीते मम भार्या भव प्रिये।।3.55.17।।

Transliteration

sādhu kiṃ te 'nyayā buddhyā rochayasva vaco mama |

bhajasva m ābhitaptasya prasādaṃ kartum arhasi ||3.55.18||

Translation

“Why entertain any other thought? Accept my words. I am tormented with desire; you ought to show me favour.”

Context

O Sita dear ! be my chief queen among the many thousands of women I have married.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma restrains kāma (desire) and rejects entitlement; demanding ‘favour’ from a harmed person inverts moral order and violates satya and compassion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa presses Sītā to comply, framing his desire as a reason she should grant him grace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s self-respect and adherence to dharma are implied: she is not responsible to soothe the wrongdoer’s desire.