Shloka 11

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

सुधामणिविचित्राणि भूमिभागानि सर्वशः।दशग्रीवस्स्वभवने प्रादर्शयत मैथिलीम्।।3.55.11।।

Transliteration

sudhāmaṇivicitrāṇi bhūmibhāgāni sarvaśaḥ |

daśagrīvaḥ svabhavane prādarśayat maithilīm ||3.55.11||

Translation

दशग्रीवः स्वभवने सर्वशः सुधामणिविचित्राणि भूमिभागानि मैथिलीं प्रादर्शयत्॥

Word by Word

• sudhā-maṇi-vicitrāṇi: decorated with crystal/gems
• sudhā-maṇi-vicitrāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sudhā (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग); viśeṣaṇa to bhūmi-bhāgāni; samāsa: sudhāmaṇibhiḥ vicitrāṇi = 'variegated with crystal/gems'

• bhūmi-bhāgāni: floor-sections/floors
• bhūmi-bhāgāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग); samāsa: bhūmeḥ bhāgāni = 'parts of the floor/ground'

• sarvaśaḥ: everywhere/all over
• sarvaśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (adverb of manner/प्रकारवाचक)

• daśagrīvaḥ: Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• daśagrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग); bahuvrīhi epithet = 'he who has ten necks/heads'

• sva-bhavane: in (his) own mansion
• sva-bhavane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदik) + bhavana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Napuṃsaka (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग); samāsa: svam bhavanam = 'own mansion'

• prādarśayat: showed
• prādarśayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); Parasmaipada; causative sense 'showed'

• maithilīm: to Maithilī (Sītā)
• maithilīm: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग)

Context

The ten-headed Ravana showed Sita, the princess from Mithila the floors with wonderful crystals.

Characters & Entities

• Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Laṅkā (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is contrasted with coercive persuasion: displaying wealth to influence another’s will is ethically suspect when used to support wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa leads Sītā through his residence, pointing out its gem-studded splendour as a prelude to his proposal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s integrity (satya-niṣṭhā) is foregrounded by the surrounding episode: she does not equate luxury with righteousness.