Shloka 9

रावणस्य परिव्राजकवेषेण सीतासमीपगमनम्

Ravana Approaches Sita Disguised as a Mendicant

Devanagari script

अभव्यो भव्यरूपेण भर्तारमनुशोचतीम्।।।।अभ्यवर्तत वैदेहीं चित्रामिव शनैश्चरः।

Transliteration

abhavyo bhavyarūpeṇa bhartāram anuśocatīm |

abhyavartata vaidehīṃ citrām iva śanaiścaraḥ ||

Translation

Le scélérat, revêtu d’une apparence honorable, s’approcha de Vaidehī qui pleurait son époux, tel Saturne s’avançant vers Citrā.

Word by Word

• abhavyaḥ: unworthy/evil
• abhavyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) of abhyavartata
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhavya-rūpeṇa: in a holy-looking guise
• bhavya-rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण) / Veṣa-nirdeśa
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavya (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; ‘with an auspicious guise’

• bhartāram: (her) husband
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म) of anuśocatīm (object of grieving)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• anuśocatīm: lamenting
• anuśocatīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vaidehīm
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu+√śuc (धातु) शतृ (present participle)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; śatṛ-participle; agrees with vaidehīm

• abhyavartata: approached/came near
• abhyavartata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi+ā+√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• vaidehīm: Vaidehī
• vaidehīm: Karma (कर्म) of abhyavartata
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• citrām: Citrā (star)
• citrām: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; name of a nakṣatra; upamāna with iva

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya

• śanaiścaraḥ: Saturn
• śanaiścaraḥ: Upameya (उपमेय) in simile; also appositional subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: śanaiścara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; name of planet Saturn

Context

Seeing Ravana with his blood-red eyes, the swift-flowing river Godavari slowed down out of fear.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Rāma (as husband)

FAQs

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

Dharma values inner truth over outer appearance; the verse warns that respectable dress or speech can conceal adharma, so discernment is necessary.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā is anxious for Rāma, and at that vulnerable moment Rāvaṇa nears her in a holy disguise.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast attachment to her husband is foregrounded (“grieving for her husband”), reflecting fidelity and devotion even under distress.