Shloka 11

रावणस्य परिव्राजकवेषेण सीतासमीपगमनम्

Ravana Approaches Sita Disguised as a Mendicant

Devanagari script

शुभां रुचिरदन्तोष्ठीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्।।।।आसीनां पर्णशालायां बाष्पशोकाभिपीडिताम्।स तां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं पीतकौशेयवासिनीम्।।।।अभ्यगच्छत वैदेहीं दुष्टचेता निशाचरः।

Transliteration

śubhāṃ ruciradantoṣṭhīṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām | āsīnāṃ parṇaśālāyāṃ bāṣpaśokābhipīḍitām || sa tāṃ padmapalāśākṣīṃ pītakauśeyavāsinīm | abhyagacchata vaidehīṃ duṣṭacetā niśācaraḥ || 3.46.11 ||

Translation

อสูรราตรีผู้มีจิตชั่วได้เข้าไปใกล้พระไวเทหี ขณะนางนั่งอยู่ในกระท่อมใบไม้ ถูกกดทับด้วยน้ำตาและความโศก—สตรีผู้เป็นมงคล ริมฝีปากและฟันงดงาม พระพักตร์ดุจจันทร์เพ็ญ ดวงตาดุจกลีบบัว และทรงภูษาผ้าไหมสีเหลือง

Word by Word

• śubhām: auspicious/beautiful
• śubhām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with vaidehīm/tām

• rucira-dantōṣṭhīm: with lovely teeth and lips
• rucira-dantōṣṭhīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rucira (प्रातिपदिक) + danta (प्रातिपदिक) + oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa describing ‘having lovely teeth and lips’ (dvandva-like internal coordination)

• pūrṇa-candra-nibhānanām: with a face like the full moon
• pūrṇa-candra-nibhānanām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘whose face is like the full moon’ (upamā embedded)

• āsīnām: seated
• āsīnām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ās (धातु) क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kta-participle ‘seated’; agrees with tām/vaidehīm

• parṇa-śālāyām: in the leaf-hut
• parṇa-śālāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘leaf-hut’

• bāṣpa-śoka-abhipīḍitām: tormented by tears and sorrow
• bāṣpa-śoka-abhipīḍitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + abhi+√pīḍ (धातु) क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘afflicted by tears and grief’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) of abhyagacchata
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म) of abhyagacchata
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• padma-palāśa-akṣīm: lotus-petal-eyed
• padma-palāśa-akṣīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + palāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘lotus-petal-eyed’

• pīta-kauśeya-vāsinīm: clad in yellow silk
• pīta-kauśeya-vāsinīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (प्रातिपदिक) + kauśeya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘dwelling in/wearing yellow silk’

• abhyagacchata: approached
• abhyagacchata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi+√gam (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• vaidehīm: Vaidehī
• vaidehīm: Karma (कर्म) of abhyagacchata (appositional to tām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• duṣṭa-cetāḥ: wicked-minded
• duṣṭa-cetāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of niśācaraḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose mind is wicked’

• niśācaraḥ: night-ranger (demon)
• niśācaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) of abhyagacchata
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (कृदन्त; √car (धातु) अण्/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘night-walker’

Context

The wicked demon came close to that auspicious princess from Videha sitting in the cottage Her face was like the full moon. Her teeth and lips were lovely. She was clad in yellow silk. Her eyes were like lotus petals tormented by tears of grief.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Vaidehī
• parṇaśālā (leaf-hut)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the vulnerability of the righteous in moments of isolation and grief, and the adharma of exploiting another’s suffering; Dharma calls for protection of the distressed, not predation.

What is the narrative situation?

With Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa away, Rāvaṇa closes in on Sītā seated in the hut, still grieving and fearful.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s dignity and auspiciousness are foregrounded; her inner nobility stands in contrast to the demon’s wicked intent.