Shloka 22
रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्
Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita
इच्छ मां क्रियतामद्य प्रतिकर्म तवोत्तमम्।।5.20.21।।सप्रभाण्यवसज्यन्तां तवाङ्गे भूषणानि च।साधु पश्यामि ते रूपं संयुक्तं प्रतिकर्मणा।।5.20.22।।
saprabhāṇy avasajyantāṃ tavāṅge bhūṣaṇāni ca | sādhu paśyāmi te rūpaṃ saṃyuktaṃ pratikarmaṇā || 5.20.22 ||
光り輝く飾りを汝の肢体にまとわせよ。装いを整えた汝の美しき姿を、われは見たい。
"Offer your love to me. Get yourself decorated in an excellent way. Wear glowing ornaments on your limbs. Let me see you in pleasingly decorated form.
FAQs
The verse demonstrates adharma through objectification: a person is treated as an object of display rather than as a moral agent deserving autonomy and respect.
Rāvaṇa instructs Sītā to wear ornaments and present herself attractively, continuing his coercive persuasion.
Sītā’s inner steadfastness is emphasized implicitly—her worth is not dependent on ornamentation, and she resists being reduced to an object.