Shloka 30

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनां तन्वीमप्यनलङ्कृताम्।।5.20.30।।त्वां दृष्ट्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रतिं नोपलभाम्यहम्।

Transliteration

kliṣṭakauśeyavasanāṃ tanvīm apy analaṅkṛtām || 5.20.30 || tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā sveṣu dāreṣu ratiṃ nopalabhāmy aham |

Translation

ക്ലിഷ്ടമായ കൗശേയവസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ചും, ക്ഷീണിതയായിട്ടും അലങ്കാരമില്ലാതെയും ഉള്ള നിന്നെ കണ്ടിട്ടും—ഹേ ദേവി—എന്റെ സ്വന്തം ഭാര്യമാരോടു പോലും എനിക്കു രതി ഉദിക്കുന്നില്ല.

Word by Word

• क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनाम्: wearing soiled silk garments
• क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लिष्ट-कौशेय-वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member तत्पुरुषः: क्लिष्टं कौशेयं वसनं यस्याः

• तन्वीम्: slender one
• तन्वीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तन्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘even/also’

• अनलङ्कृताम्: undecorated
• अनलङ्कृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्-आलङ्कृ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) with negation prefix ‘अन-’; Feminine (स्त्री), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having seen’

• स्वेषु: in my own
• स्वेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) or Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with दारेषु

• दारेषु: among (my) wives
• दारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• रतिम्: desire/love
• रतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• उपलभामि: I find/obtain
• उपलभामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"O Janaki! There are a number of virtuous consorts residing in the harem of my royal palace. You may exercise your authority on all of them.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma upholds self-control and respect for others’ boundaries; the verse illustrates how uncontrolled desire (kāma) erodes discernment and ethical restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa intensifies persuasion by declaring exclusive attraction to Sītā, contrasting her with his existing consorts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dignity under suffering is highlighted: even in deprivation, her inner nobility remains unimpaired—yet it does not license another’s adharma.