Shloka 10

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

सोपानं काञ्चनं चित्रमारुरोह तया सह।।3.55.9।।दान्तका राजताश्चैव गवाक्षाः प्रियदर्शनाः।हेमजालावताश्चासन्स्तत्र प्रासादपङ्क्तयः।।3.55.10।।

Transliteration

dāntakā rājatāś caiva gavākṣāḥ priyadarśanāḥ |

hemajālāvatāś cāsan tatra prāsādapaṅktayaḥ ||3.55.10||

Translation

അവിടെ പ്രാസാദങ്ങളുടെ നിരകൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു—കാണാൻ അത്യന്തം മനോഹരം; ദന്തവും വെള്ളിയും കൊണ്ടുണ്ടാക്കിയ ഗവാക്ഷങ്ങൾ (ജനാലകൾ) ഉള്ളതും, സ്വർണ്ണജാലികകളാൽ മറച്ചതുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• dāntakāḥ: ivory(-made)
• dāntakāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāntaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa to gavākṣāḥ

• rājatāḥ: silver(-made)
• rājatāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa to gavākṣāḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed/also
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa (emphatic particle/अवधारण)

• gavākṣāḥ: windows
• gavākṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gavākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग)

• priyadarśanāḥ: beautiful to look at
• priyadarśanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa to gavākṣāḥ; samāsa: priyaṃ darśanaṃ yeṣām = 'pleasant in appearance'

• hema-jāla-āvatāḥ: covered with golden latticework
• hema-jāla-āvatāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + āvata/āvṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रthama), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa to prāsāda-paṅktayaḥ; samāsa: hemajālena āvṛtāḥ = 'covered with golden lattice/trellis'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन); Parasmaipada

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (locative adverb/देशवाचक)

• prāsāda-paṅktayaḥ: rows of mansions
• prāsāda-paṅktayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāsāda (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग); samāsa: prāsādānāṃ paṅktayaḥ = 'rows of mansions'

Context

He ascended the wonderful golden staircase taking Sita along with him.Beautiful looked the rows of mansions with silver and ivory windows and golden trellis.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā (implied setting)
• Rāvaṇa (implied across the passage)
• Sītā (implied across the passage)

FAQs

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

The verse presents outward luxury as morally neutral in itself, but in context it becomes an instrument of temptation; Dharma warns against being swayed by sensory allure when it serves Adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā, Sītā is being led through Rāvaṇa’s splendid residences; the narrator highlights the palace’s opulence as part of the larger attempt to entice her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfastness is implied by contrast: despite being surrounded by dazzling wealth, she remains oriented to fidelity and righteousness.