Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 13

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

त्वां कृत्वोपरतो मन्ये रूपकर्ता स विश्वसृक्।न हि रूपोपमा त्वन्या तवास्ति शुभदर्शने।।5.20.13।।

Transliteration

tvāṃ kṛtvoparato manye rūpakartā sa viśvasṛk |

na hi rūpopamā tv anyā tavāsti śubhadarśane || 5.20.13 ||

Translation

Ó mulher de aspecto auspicioso, penso que o Modelador das formas, o Criador do mundo, cessou sua obra depois de te criar; pois não há outra mulher que se compare à tua beleza.

Word by Word

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

• समासाद्य: having approached/obtained
• समासाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

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

• रूप-यौवन-शालिनीम्: endowed with beauty and youth
• रूप-यौवन-शालिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + यौवन (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (रूपेण यौवनेन च शालिनी)

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• पुमान्: a man
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अतिवर्तेत: could surpass/withstand
• अतिवर्तेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb: directly/in person)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-निपात (even/also)

• पितामहः: the grandsire (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

"O lady with auspicious looks! Me thinks, the creator must have retired after creating your beautiful form. For there is no one comparable to you in beauty.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Viśvasṛj (Creator/Brahmā as world-creator)

FAQs

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

The verse demonstrates unethical persuasion through flattery. Dharma emphasizes truthfulness and restraint; praise used to entice someone into violating fidelity is a misuse of speech (vāc) and intention.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa intensifies his courtship attempt by extravagant praise, portraying Sītā as unmatched in beauty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s discernment and commitment to satya (truth) and pativratā-dharma are highlighted by her refusal to be swayed by praise.