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Shloka 8

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधं स्त्रीसहस्रनिषेवितम्।नानापक्षिगणैर्जुष्टं नानारत्नसमन्वितम्।।3.55.7।।दान्तकैस्तापनीयैश्च स्फाटिकै राजतैरपि।वज्रवैडूर्यचित्रैश्च स्तम्भैर्दृष्टिमनोहरैः।।3.55.8।।दिव्यदुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादं तप्तकाञ्चनतोरणम्।

dāntakais tāpanīyaiś ca sphāṭikai rājatair api |

vajravaiḍūryacitraiś ca stambhair dṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ || 3.55.8 ||

അവിടെ ദന്തപ്പണിയും താപനീയസ്വർണ്ണവും, സ്ഫടികവും വെള്ളിയും, വജ്രവും വൈഡൂര്യരത്നചിത്രങ്ങളും പതിപ്പിച്ച, ദൃഷ്ടിയെ മോഹിപ്പിക്കുന്ന തൂണുകൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു।

dāntakaiḥwith ivory (ornaments)
dāntakaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootdāntaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
tāpanīyaiḥwith gold (golden pieces)
tāpanīyaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Roottāpanīya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-avadhāraṇa (conjunction/समुच्चय)
sphāṭikaiḥwith crystals
sphāṭikaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootsphāṭika (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
rājataiḥwith silver
rājataiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootrājata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग)
apialso
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya/Emphasis particle (api/अपि)
vajra-vaiḍūrya-citraiḥwith (pillars) inlaid/variegated with diamond and vaidūrya
vajra-vaiḍūrya-citraiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvajra (प्रातिपदिक) + vaiḍūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + citra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa (adjectival) to stambhaiḥ; samāsa: (vajra-vaiḍūryayoḥ) citraiḥ = 'variegated with diamonds and vaidūrya'
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-avadhāraṇa (conjunction/समुच्चय)
stambhaiḥwith pillars
stambhaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootstambha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग)
dṛṣṭi-manoharaiḥ(pillars) delightful to behold
dṛṣṭi-manoharaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa to stambhaiḥ; samāsa: dṛṣṭyā manoharaiḥ = 'charming to the sight'
divya-dundubhi-nirhrādamresounding with celestial drums
divya-dundubhi-nirhrādam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdivya (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक) + nirhrāda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa to toraṇam; samāsa: dundubhyāḥ nirhrādaḥ = 'resounding of drums', divya = 'wonderful'
tapta-kāñcana-toraṇama gateway of gleaming refined gold
tapta-kāñcana-toraṇam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottapta (प्रातिपदिक) + kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग); samāsa: taptaṃ kāñcanaṃ yasya (toraṇam) = 'gateway of heated/refined gold'

His home was a complex of palaces and mansions served by thousands of women. It was an abode of different flocks of birds. It had captivating pillars studded with gold, crystals, silver, diamonds and vaiduryas. It resounded with wonderful sounds of drums. Its golden entrances were glittering.

R
Rāvaṇa’s residence (in Laṅkā, implied)
V
vaidūrya (gem)

FAQs

The verse supports a recurring Ramayana ethic: sensory beauty and wealth do not define righteousness; moral worth lies in restraint, truth, and rightful action.

A continued description of the opulent palace environment shown to Sītā by force.

Sītā’s implied non-attachment: the grandeur is foregrounded to show that her loyalty and dharma are not purchasable.