Valmiki Ramayana 6.12.15 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 15
युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च
Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel
सुलोहिततलौश्लक्ष् णौचरणौसुप्रतिष्ठितौ ।दृष्ट्वाताम्रनखौतस्यादीप्यतेमेशरीरजः ।।6.12.15।।
sulohitatalau ślakṣṇau caraṇau supratiṣṭhitau |
dṛṣṭvā tāmranakhau tasyā dīpyate me śarīrajaḥ ||6.12.15||
तिचे चरण—गडद लोहित तळवे असलेले, मृदू, सुस्थिर, तांबूस नखांनी युक्त—पाहून माझ्या देहातला काम अधिकच प्रज्वलित होतो।
"On beholding the sacrificial fire-like face of Sita glowing like the radiance of the Sun, seeing her prominent nose, her large attractive countenance with beautiful eyes surely, I am overtaken by love and have become a slave to her."
FAQs
It illustrates how sensory fixation inflames desire; dharma calls for restraint and respect for another’s marital fidelity (pativratā-dharma) rather than objectification.
Rāvaṇa confesses the intensifying of his desire upon seeing Sītā’s features, revealing the inner engine of adharma driving his actions.
The implied virtue is self-mastery; the speaker’s admission highlights its absence and the moral peril of unchecked kāma.
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