Shloka 2

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

स चिन्तयानो वैदेहीं कामबाणसमर्पितः।प्रविवेश गृहं रम्यं सीतां द्रष्टुमभित्वरन्।।3.55.2।।

Transliteration

sa cintayāno vaidehīṃ kāmabāṇa-samarpitaḥ |

praviveśa gṛhaṃ ramyaṃ sītāṃ draṣṭum abhitvaran ||3.55.2||

Translation

Son esprit tourné vers Vaidehī, transpercé par les flèches de Kāma, il se hâta de voir Sītā et entra dans la demeure charmante.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• cintayānaḥ: thinking
• cintayānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cint (धातु) + śānac (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle, शानच्), आत्मनेपदी-अर्थ; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vaidehīm: Vaidehī (Sītā)
• vaidehīm: Karma (कर्म/object of 'cintayānaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kāmabāṇasamarpitaḥ: overcome by Cupid's arrows
• kāmabāṇasamarpitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + bāṇa + samarpita (प्रातिपदिक; काम + बाण + समर्पित)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया/सप्तमी-भाव: कामबाणैः समर्पितः = surrendered to Cupid's arrows); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + viś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• gṛham: house
• gṛham: Karma (कर्म/object of 'praviveśa')
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ramyam: beautiful
• ramyam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'gṛham' विशेषण

• sītām: Sītā
• sītām: Karma (कर्म/object of 'draṣṭum')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + tumun (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); 'to see'

• abhitvaran: hastening
• abhitvaran: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + tvar (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle, शतृ); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Thinking about Vaidehi and hit by the arrows of Cupid (the god of love). Ravana hastened to see Sita and entered the beautiful home.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• Kāma (Cupid)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how unchecked kāma (desire) can overpower judgment and lead one toward adharma—here, the unethical pursuit of another’s spouse.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa, inflamed by desire for Sītā, quickly enters the residence/space where she is kept, intent on seeing her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (implicitly), the Ramāyaṇa’s virtue of self-restraint (dama) is emphasized through Rāvaṇa’s lack of it.