Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 34

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

न रामस्तपसा देवि न बलेन न विक्रमैः।।5.20.34।।न धनेन मया तुल्यस्तेजसा यशसापि वा।

Transliteration

na rāmas tapasā devi na balena na vikramaiḥ || 5.20.34 || na dhanena mayā tulyas tejasā yaśasāpi vā |

Translation

Wahai permaisuri, Rāma tidak setara denganku—bukan dalam tapa, bukan dalam kekuatan, bukan dalam keberanian; bukan juga dalam harta, dalam cahaya kemuliaan, bahkan dalam nama masyhur sekalipun.

Word by Word

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

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• देवि: O lady/queen
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• बलेन: by strength
• बलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• विक्रमैः: by valour/deeds
• विक्रमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• धनेन: by wealth
• धनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• मया: with me / compared to me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• तुल्यः: equal
• तुल्यः: Pradhana-visheshana (प्रधानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective with मया (instr. of comparison)

• तेजसा: in brilliance
• तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• यशसा: in fame
• यशसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

Context

"O delightful one! I will bestow you with heaps of riches and land. Therefore, enjoy with me- drinking, sporting, and revelling. Accept me and be happy to sport with me.Let your elatives join you and enjoy all my wealth.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Satya and humility are dharmic; Rāvaṇa’s boastful self-exaltation exemplifies ahaṅkāra, which blinds one to truth and accelerates moral downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

Failing to win Sītā through gifts and praise, Rāvaṇa tries to diminish Rāma and elevate himself as the worthier choice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s true excellence is indirectly emphasized: dharmic greatness is not mere power or wealth, but righteousness and fidelity—qualities Rāvaṇa ignores.