Shloka 32

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

मम ह्यसितकेशान्ते त्रैलोक्यप्रवराः स्त्रियः।।5.20.32।।तास्त्वां परिचरिष्यन्ति श्रियमप्सरसो यथा।

Transliteration

mama hy asitakeśānte trailokyapravarāḥ striyaḥ || 5.20.32 || tās tvāṃ paricariṣyanti śriyam apsaraso yathā |

Translation

Wahai wanita berambut hitam, para perempuan terbaik di tiga dunia adalah milikku; mereka akan melayanimu sebagaimana para apsara melayani Śrī (Lakṣmī).

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• असितकेशान्ते: O dark-tressed one
• असितकेशान्ते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असित-केश-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); ‘dark-haired (at the ends)’ used as address

• त्रैलोक्यप्रवराः: best in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यप्रवराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य-प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘best in the three worlds’

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ताः: those (women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• परिचरिष्यन्ति: will attend/serve
• परिचरिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future/भविष्यत्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural), परस्मैपद

• श्रियम्: Sri (Lakshmi)/splendour
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• अप्सरसः: apsarases
• अप्सरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile indeclinable (उपमा-अव्यय)

Context

"O Sita of heavy hips and beautiful brows! Be happy. Enjoy all the worlds of mine, the gems and wealth of Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• trailokya (three worlds)
• apsaras
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

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

Dharma cautions against using sacred imagery to justify unethical aims; invoking Lakṣmī to dignify coercive desire is a misuse of religious symbolism.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues to lure Sītā with visions of honor, service, and celestial-like luxury.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s discernment (viveka): she distinguishes true auspiciousness grounded in dharma from mere splendor grounded in adharma.