Shloka 13

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

दर्शयित्वा तु वैदेह्याः कृत्स्नं तद्भवनोत्तमम्।उवाच वाक्यं पापात्मा सीतां लोभितुमिच्छया।।3.55.13।।

Transliteration

darśayitvā tu vaidehyāḥ kṛtsnaṃ tad bhavanottamam |

uvāca vākyaṃ pāpātmā sītāṃ lobhitum icchayā ||3.55.13||

Translation

വൈദേഹിയോട് ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ ഭവനം മുഴുവനും കാണിച്ചുകാട്ടി, സീതയെ മോഹിപ്പിക്കുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച പാപാത്മാവ് വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• darśayitvā: having shown
• darśayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ktvā/क्त्वा), causative sense 'having shown'

• tu: then/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Virodha/Anvaya particle (tu/तु)

• vaidehyāḥ: to Vaidehī (Sītā)
• vaidehyāḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Caturthī (Dative/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग)

• kṛtsnam: entire
• kṛtsnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa to tad-bhavana-uttamam

• tad-bhavana-uttamam: that excellent mansion
• tad-bhavana-uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhavana (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितīyā), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग); samāsa: tasya bhavanasya uttamam = 'the best of that mansion'

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• pāpātmā: the wicked-souled (Rāvaṇa)
• pāpātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग); bahuvrīhi epithet = 'one whose self is sinful'

• sītām: Sītā
• sītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितīyā), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग)

• lobhitum: to allure
• lobhitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lubh (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (tumun/तुमुन्) = 'to entice/allure'

• icchayā: with the desire
• icchayā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग); hetu-bhāva (by desire)

Context

The sinful Ravana showed Sita, princess of Videha, the best of all his mansions in order to allure her, saying:

Characters & Entities

• Vaidehī (Sītā)
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns manipulation rooted in greed and desire; persuasion aimed at breaking marital fidelity is presented as pāpa (sinful conduct).

What is the narrative situation?

Having completed the tour of his splendour, Rāvaṇa begins his direct verbal attempt to win Sītā over.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse frames Rāvaṇa’s intent as unethical, thereby highlighting Sītā’s expected adherence to satya and pativratā-dharma (marital fidelity).