Shloka 1

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

सन्दिश्य राक्षसान्घोरान् रावणोऽष्टौ महाबलान्।आत्मानं बुद्धिवैक्लब्यात्कृतकृत्यममन्यत।।3.55.1।।

Transliteration

sandiśya rākṣasān ghorān rāvaṇo 'ṣṭau mahābalān |

ātmānaṃ buddhivaiklabyāt kṛtakṛtyam amanyata ||

Translation

ഭീകരരായ എട്ട് മഹാബല രാക്ഷസന്മാരെ അയച്ച ശേഷം, ബുദ്ധിവൈകല്യത്താൽ രാവണൻ താൻ കൃതകൃത്യനായി, ലക്ഷ്യം സിദ്ധിച്ചതായി കരുതി.

Word by Word

• sandiśya: having ordered
• sandiśya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + diś (धातु) + lyap (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययभाव-कृदन्त (gerund, ल्यप्); 'having instructed/ordered'

• rākṣasān: demons
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म/object of 'sandiśya')
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ghorān: fierce
• ghorān: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); 'rākṣasān' विशेषण

• rāvaṇaḥ: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); 'rākṣasān' विशेषण

• mahābalān: very powerful
• mahābalān: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक; महा + बल)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महद् बलं येषां ते); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); 'rākṣasān' विशेषण

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म/object of 'amanyata')
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• buddhivaiklabyāt: from mental weakness/perversion
• buddhivaiklabyāt: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi + vaiklabya (प्रातिपदिक; बुद्धि + वैक्लब्य)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: बुद्धेः वैक्लब्यात् = from weakness/perversion of intellect); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• kṛtakṛtyam: as one who had accomplished his task
• kṛtakṛtyam: Karma (कर्म/object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक; कृत + कृत्य)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (कृतं कृत्यं येन = one who has done what had to be done); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); 'ātmānam' विशेषण (as object-complement)

• amanyata: thought/considered
• amanyata: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

Context

After ordering the eight most fierce and powerful demons, Ravana had a sense of accomplishment within himself because of his perverse intellect.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Eight rākṣasas

FAQs

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

True accomplishment is measured by righteousness, not by successful execution of harmful plans; distorted intellect mistakes adharma for victory.

What is the narrative situation?

After giving orders to eight powerful rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa feels self-satisfied, believing his aims are fulfilled.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

As a cautionary contrast: discernment (viveka) is the virtue missing; the verse depicts how moral blindness produces false confidence.