Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 1

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

स तां परिवृतां दीनां निरानन्दां तपस्विनीम्।साकारैर्मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्न्यदर्शयत रावणः।।5.20.1।।

Transliteration

sa tāṃ parivṛtāṃ dīnāṃ nirānandāṃ tapasvinīm | sākārair madhurair vākyair nyadarśayata rāvaṇaḥ ||

Translation

రావణుడు రక్షకులతో చుట్టుముట్టబడి, దుఃఖితగా ఆనందరహితగా ఉన్న ఆ తపస్వినీ సీతను చూసి, తన అభిప్రాయాన్ని నెరవేర్చుకోవడానికి మధురమైనా కౌశల్యభరితమైన మాటలతో ఆమెను సంభోదించాడు.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (Ravana)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• parivṛtām: surrounded
• parivṛtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√vṛ (धातु) + parivṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (surrounded)

• dīnām: dejected
• dīnām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nirānandām: joyless, sorrowful
• nirānandām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-पूर्वक तत्पुरुष (without joy)

• tapasvinīm: ascetic woman
• tapasvinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sākāraiḥ: with expressive (gestured)
• sākāraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ākāra-sahita = expressive/with gestures)

• madhuraiḥ: sweet
• madhuraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vākyaiḥ: with words/speeches
• vākyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• nyadarśayata: showed/expressed
• nyadarśayata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (परस्मैपद), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 'न्य-' = नि- उपसर्गस्य संधिरूप

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Ravana expressed his intention in sweet words to the depressed and grief-stricken ascetic Sita surrounded by demon guards:

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Sita

FAQs

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

The verse warns that unrighteous intent may wear the mask of sweetness: adharma often approaches through persuasive speech. Dharma requires discernment—judging by truth and conduct, not flattering words.

What is the narrative situation?

In captivity, Sita sits grief-stricken among guards; Ravana comes and begins speaking to her with calculated sweetness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sita’s steadfastness is set up by contrast: though distressed and isolated, she remains a tapasvinī—self-disciplined and anchored in satya—against Ravana’s manipulative speech.