Shloka 5.20.27

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम् (Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita)

Devanagari script

न हि वैदेहि रामस्त्वां द्रष्टुं वा प्युपलप्स्यते।पुरोबलाकैरसितैर्मेघैर्ज्योत्स्नामिवावृताम्।।5.20.27।।

Transliteration

na hi vaidehi rāmas tvāṃ draṣṭuṃ vāpy upalapsyate | purobalākair asitair meghair jyotsnām ivāvṛtām || 5.20.27 ||

Translation

O Vaidehī, Rāma will not be able even to see you—like moonlight veiled by dark clouds with cranes flying before them.

Context

"O Vaidehi! I wonder if Rama can see you at all. You are like moonlight veiled by dark clouds and cannot be seen even by the flying cranes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Rāma
• megha (clouds)
• balāka (cranes)

FAQs

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

The verse shows the unethical use of despair as a weapon. Dharma upholds truthfulness; manipulating perception to extinguish hope is adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa claims Rāma cannot even reach sight of Sītā, using a poetic simile to intensify her isolation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s resilience is implied: despite being ‘veiled’ from help, she continues to uphold faith and righteousness.