Shloka 29

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

पुष्पकं नाम सुश्रोणि भ्रातुर्वैश्रवणस्य मे।।3.55.29।।विमानं सूर्यसङ्काशं तरसा निर्जितं मया।

Transliteration

puṣpakaṃ nāma suśroṇi bhrātur vaiśravaṇasya me | vimānaṃ sūrya-saṅkāśaṃ tarasā nirjitaṃ mayā || 3.55.29 ||

Translation

ഹേ സുഷ്രോണീ, എന്റെ സഹോദരനായ വൈശ്രവണൻ (കുബേരൻ) ഉടമയായ ‘പുഷ്പക’ എന്ന, സൂര്യസമപ്രഭമായ വിമാനത്തെ ഞാൻ ബലത്തോടെ ജയിച്ചെടുത്തതാണ്.

Word by Word

• पुष्पकम्: Pushpaka (name)
• पुष्पकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to vimānam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नाम: called, by name
• नाम: विशेषण-निपात (Naming particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक-निपात (particle indicating name)

• सुश्रोणि: O fair-hipped lady
• सुश्रोणि: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुश्रोणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (सु + श्रोणि: 'one with beautiful hips')

• भ्रातुः: of (my) brother
• भ्रातुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वैश्रवणस्य: of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)
• वैश्रवणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• विमानम्: aerial chariot
• विमानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; understood with 'is/exists')
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सूर्यसङ्काशम्: sun-like, radiant as the sun
• सूर्यसङ्काशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; qualifier of vimānam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्यसङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक: सूर्य + सङ्काश)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (सूर्यस्य सङ्काशः = like the sun)

• तरसा: by force, with speed/strength
• तरसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• निर्जितम्: won, conquered
• निर्जितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; predicate adjective of vimānam)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + जि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'conquered/won'

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instrumental/कर्ता in passive), एकवचन

Context

Ravana, lord of the demons, entered his residence and saw Sita full of grief in the midst of the demonesses.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)
• Puṣpaka-vimāna

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates adharma through pride in wrongful acquisition: boasting about taking another’s rightful property by force contrasts with dharma, which upholds legitimate ownership and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa attempts to impress and entice Sītā by describing his splendor and possessions, specifically the Puṣpaka-vimāna taken from Kubera.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively, Rāvaṇa’s lack of self-restraint and respect for dharma is emphasized—his identity is tied to conquest and appropriation rather than righteousness.