Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 6

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

अश्रुपूर्णमुखीं दीनां शोकभाराभिपीडिताम्।वायुवेगैरिवाक्रान्तां मज्जन्तीं नावमर्णवे।।3.55.4।।मृगयूथपरिभ्रष्टां मृगीं श्वभिरिवावृताम्।अधोमुखमुखीं सीतामभ्येत्य च निशाचरः।।3.55.5।।तां तु शोकपरां दीनामवशां राक्षसाधिपः।स बलाद्दर्शयामास गृहं देवगृहोपमम्।।3.55.6।।

tāṃ tu śokaparāṃ dīnām avaśāṃ rākṣasādhipaḥ |

sa balād darśayāmāsa gṛhaṃ devagṛhopamam || 3.55.6 ||

ദുഃഖത്തിൽ മുങ്ങിയ, ദീനയും നിർബ്ബലയും ആയ അവളെ കണ്ട രാക്ഷസാധിപൻ, ദേവമന്ദിരംപോലെ തോന്നുന്ന തന്റെ ഭവനം ബലമായി അവൾക്കു കാണിച്ചു.

tāmher
tām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (particle; contrast/emphasis)
śokaparāmoverwhelmed by grief
śokaparām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootśoka-para (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa—śoke parā (absorbed in grief)
dīnāmwretched
dīnām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootdīna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
avaśāmhelpless
avaśām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootavaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
rākṣasādhipaḥking of the rākṣasas
rākṣasādhipaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootrākṣasa-adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa—rākṣasānām adhipaḥ
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
balātby force
balāt:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootbala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुṃsaka-liṅga, Pañcamī, Ekavacana; hetu/adhikaraṇa-bhāva (by force)
darśayāmāsashowed
darśayāmāsa:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdṛś (धातु) + ṇic (causative)
FormLiṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada; णिजन्त (causative)
gṛhama house
gṛham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootgṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुṃsaka-liṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
devagṛhopamamlike a heavenly palace
devagṛhopamam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootdeva-gṛha-upama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुṃsaka-liṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa—devagṛhasya upamam (like a divine mansion)

The demon Ravana forcibly took Sita, her face full of tears, to show her his heavenlike home. Inflicted with grief she looked wretched. She resembled a female deer hounded out of the herd. With her head bent in grief, she looked pathetic like one not under her control, like a boat sinking under the sea driven by the wind.

S
Sītā
R
Rāvaṇa

FAQs

The verse underscores that splendor cannot sanctify wrongdoing: coercion (balāt) remains adharma even when wrapped in divine-like luxury.

Rāvaṇa compels the grieving Sītā to view his magnificent residence, attempting to intimidate or entice her.

Sītā’s moral steadfastness is implied by contrast: despite being shown grandeur, she is described primarily through grief and helplessness, not temptation.