Shloka 34

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

अलं व्रीडेन वैदेहि धर्मलोपकृतेन च।।3.55.34।।आर्षोऽयं दैवनिष्यन्दो यस्त्वामभिगमिष्यति।

Transliteration

alaṃ vrīḍena vaidehi dharma-lopa-kṛtena ca | ārṣo 'yaṃ daiva-niṣyando yas tvām abhigamiṣyati || 3.55.34 ||

Translation

ହେ ବୈଦେହୀ, ଲଜ୍ଜାରେ କିମ୍ବା ଧର୍ମଭଙ୍ଗର ଭାବନାରେ ଅଟକି ରୁହନି। ତୋ ପାଖକୁ ଯେ ସଂଯୋଗ ଆସୁଛି, ସେ ଦେବପ୍ରେରିତ ପ୍ରସାଦ—ଋଷିମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ମାନ୍ୟ ପରି।

Word by Word

• अलम्: enough (of), no need
• अलम्: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक/निषेधार्थक-निपात (enough; no need)

• व्रीडेन: with shame
• व्रीडेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; cause-like)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वैदेहि: O Vaidehi
• वैदेहि: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• धर्मलोपकृतेन: with (the thought of) violation of dharma
• धर्मलोपकृतेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मलोपकृत (प्रातिपदिक: धर्म + लोप + कृत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य लोपः इति कृतम् = as (something) causing loss of dharma)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• आर्षः: sanctioned by sages
• आर्षः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier of daivaniṣyandaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दैवनिष्यन्दः: dispensation of fate
• दैवनिष्यन्दः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवनिष्यन्द (प्रातिपदिक: दैव + निष्यन्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दैवात् निष्यन्दः = outcome/dispensation of fate)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of abhigamiṣyati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभिगमिष्यति: will approach
• अभिगमिष्यति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

O Sita! you need not feel shamed that it is a violation of righteous conduct. Take it as god-send which has the approval of sages.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Vaidehī)
• ṛṣis (sages) (generic reference)

FAQs

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

The verse is a classic example of adharma rationalized as dharma: Rāvaṇa tries to relabel coercion and violation as “fate” and “ṛṣi-approved,” teaching that true dharma cannot contradict consent, fidelity, and rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa attempts to overcome Sītā’s resistance by arguing she should not feel shame or see it as unrighteous, presenting the situation as divinely ordained.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s moral clarity is implied: she recognizes the difference between genuine dharma and manipulative justification.