Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 3

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

कामये त्वां विशालाक्षि बहुमन्यस्व मां प्रिये।सर्वाङ्गगुणसम्पन्ने सर्वलोकमनोहरे।।5.20.3।।

Transliteration

kāmaye tvāṃ viśālākṣi bahumanyasva māṃ priye | sarvāṅgaguṇasampanne sarvalokamanohare || 5.20.3 ||

Translation

Wahai yang bermata luas, kekasihku; engkau sempurna dengan segala keindahan pada setiap anggota, memikat hati seluruh alam. Aku mendambakanmu—berkenanlah kepadaku, terimalah pinanganku.

Word by Word

• kāmaye: I desire
• kāmaye: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (आत्मनेपद), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• viśāla-akṣi: O large-eyed one
• viśāla-akṣi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (viśāle akṣiṇī yasyāḥ)

• bahumanyasva: esteem/favour (me)
• bahumanyasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bahu-√man (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आत्मनेपद), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 'बहुमन्' = to esteem/honour

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• priye: O dear one
• priye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sarva-aṅga-guṇa-sampanne: O one endowed with virtues in every limb
• sarva-aṅga-guṇa-sampanne: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sampanna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (sarveṣv aṅgeṣu guṇaiḥ sampannā yā)

• sarvaloka-manohare: O delight of all worlds
• sarvaloka-manohare: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (sarvalokasya manoharā yā)

Context

"O lovely, timid lady! your smile, your teeth and your eyes are bewitching. Just as Garuda snatches away a serpent, you ravish my mind by your beauty.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is highlighted by contrast: Rāvaṇa’s desire-driven speech models adharma—treating another’s spouse as an object of gratification rather than honoring marital fidelity and consent.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s Aśoka grove, Rāvaṇa confronts the captive Sītā and begins to entice her with flattering words and a proposal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s virtue is implied: steadfast loyalty (pativratā-dharma) and truthfulness in refusing an unrighteous offer.