Shloka 21

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

राज्यभ्रष्टेन दीनेन तापसेन गतायुषा।किं करिष्यसि रामेण मानुषेणाल्पतेजसा।।3.55.21।।

Transliteration

rājya-bhraṣṭena dīnena tāpasena gatāyuṣā |

kiṃ kariṣyasi rāmeṇa mānuṣeṇālpa-tejasā ||3.55.21||

Translation

ਰਾਜ ਤੋਂ ਵੰਚਿਤ, ਦਿਨ, ਤਪਸਵੀ ਜੀਵਨ ਜੀਊਂਦਾ, ਅਲਪ ਆਯੁ ਅਤੇ ਅਲਪ ਤੇਜ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਰਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਕੀ ਲਾਭ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ?

Word by Word

• राज्यभ्रष्टेन: with one fallen from kingdom
• राज्यभ्रष्टेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज्य + भ्रष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ‘राज्यात् भ्रष्टः’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• दीनेन: with a wretched one
• दीनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• तापसेन: with an ascetic
• तापसेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• गतायुषा: with one whose life is spent/shortened
• गतायुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ‘गतं आयुः यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (accusative singular; idiomatically ‘what use?’)

• करिष्यसि: will you do
• करिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रामेण: with Rama
• रामेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• मानुषेण: with a human
• मानुषेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• अल्पतेजसा: with one of little splendor/power
• अल्पतेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास ‘अल्पं तेजः यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

Context

Of what use is Rama who has lost his kingdom, who is depressed and leads anascetic life and who is a short-lived, lacklustre human being.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma upholds satya (truth) and fairness; this verse shows a tactic of adharma—disparaging a righteous person to manipulate another’s loyalty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa attempts to break Sītā’s commitment to Rāma by portraying Rāma as powerless and insignificant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s steadfast fidelity (pativratā-dharma) is the virtue under pressure, as Rāvaṇa tries to undermine it.