Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 26
रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्
Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita
किं करिष्यसि रामेण सुभगे चीरवाससा।निक्षिप्तविजयो रामो गतश्रीर्वनगोचरः।।5.20.26।।व्रती स्थण्डिलशायी च शङ्के जीवति वा न वा।
kiṃ kariṣyasi rāmeṇa subhage cīravāsasā | nikṣiptavijayo rāmo gataśrīr vanagocaraḥ || 5.20.26 || vratī sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca śaṅke jīvati vā na vā |
Que feras-tu de Rāma, ô fortunée, lui qui porte l’écorce en vêtement ? Rāma a renoncé aux triomphes de la royauté, a perdu son éclat et erre dans la forêt—ascète voué à l’austérité, dormant sur la terre nue ; je doute même qu’il vive encore.
"O beautiful lady! Rama has renounced victory, he has lost his fortune. Clad in bark,he is wandering in the forest following asceticism and sleeping on the ground. What can he do for you? I am in doubt if he is alive or not.
FAQs
Dharma condemns deceit and discouragement used to break another’s faith. The verse exemplifies adharma through belittling virtue (ascetic endurance) as weakness.
Rāvaṇa attempts to sever Sītā’s hope by portraying Rāma as powerless, impoverished, and possibly dead.
Rāma’s renunciant discipline is indirectly highlighted: he accepts hardship for dharma, while Sītā’s unwavering trust in him is tested.