Shloka 16
रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्
Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita
सहस्रमेकमेकस्य मम कार्यपुरस्सरम्।।3.55.15।।यदिदं राजतन्त्रं मे त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।जीवितं च विशालाक्षि त्वं मे प्राणैर्गरीयसी।।3.55.16।।
bahūnāṃ strīsahasrāṇāṃ mama yo 'sau parigrahaḥ |
tāsāṃ tvam īśvarā sīte mama bhāryā bhava priye ||3.55.17||
माझ्या स्त्रियांच्या अनेक सहस्रांचा जो अंतःपुर-परिग्रह आहे, हे सीते! त्यांची स्वामिनी तू हो; प्रिये, माझी भार्या हो।
For me alone there are a thousand attendants.The administration of the kingdom and all my subjects will be under your control. O largeeyed Sita you are dearer to me than my life.
FAQs
Dharma upholds marital fidelity and consent; proposing ‘marriage’ after kidnapping is a violation of both satya (truthfulness) and maryādā (moral boundaries).
Rāvaṇa explicitly asks Sītā to accept him as husband and reign as chief queen over his existing wives.
Sītā’s chastity and loyalty to Rāma (pativratā-dharma) are the central virtues challenged by this proposal.