Shloka 16

रावणस्य परिव्राजकवेषेण सीतासमीपगमनम्

Ravana Approaches Sita Disguised as a Mendicant

Devanagari script

ह्रीः कीर्तिः श्रीश्शुभा लक्ष्मीरप्सरा वा शुभानने।।।।भूतिर्वा त्वं वरारोहे रतिर्वा स्वैरचारिणी।

Transliteration

hrīḥ kīrtiḥ śrīḥ śubhā lakṣmīr apsarā vā śubhānane | bhūtir vā tvaṃ varārohe ratir vā svairacāriṇī || 3.46.16 ||

Translation

โอ้ผู้มีพักตร์งามและกายอ่อนช้อย—ท่านคือหรี (ความละอายอันงาม) หรือคือกีรติ (เกียรติยศ) หรือคือศรี/ลักษมีผู้เป็นมงคล หรือเป็นอัปสรา? หรือท่านคือภูติ หรือคือรติผู้ดำเนินไปตามใจปรารถนา?

Word by Word

• ह्रीः: modesty (personified)
• ह्रीः: प्रत्ययित-सम्बोधनार्थ विकल्प (Alternative identification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कीर्तिः: fame (personified)
• कीर्तिः: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रीः: Śrī
• श्रीः: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; श्रीः-विशेषण

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीः: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अप्सरा: apsaras
• अप्सरा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण प्रथमा एकवचन 'अप्सरा')

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle 'or')

• शुभ-आनने: O beautiful-faced one
• शुभ-आनने: सम्बोधन (Vocative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: शुभम् आननम् यस्याः सा

• भूतिः: prosperity (Bhūti)
• भूतिः: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; 2nd person pronoun

• वर-आरोहे: O lovely-figured one
• वर-आरोहे: सम्बोधन (Vocative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आरोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: वरम् आरोहणम्/आरोहः यस्याः सा (one with excellent ascent/beautiful hips/figure)

• रतिः: Rati
• रतिः: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

• स्वैर-चारिणी: free-moving/at-will
• स्वैर-चारिणी: कर्तृविशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वैर (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: स्वैरेण चरति इति (moving at will); त्वम्-विशेषण

Context

O lady with a beautiful face, with lovely thighs, are you 'hri', shyness personified? Are you the auspicious lovely Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth? Are you the goddess of fame? Are you an apsara? Are you Bhuti, the goddess of fortune? Or are you Rati, the goddess of love moving at your free will ?

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Kīrti
• Śrī
• Lakṣmī
• Apsaras

FAQs

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

It shows how adharma employs exaggerated praise to blur truth; Dharma values satya and clarity—identity and intention should not be obscured by seductive rhetoric.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa continues his verbal enticement, comparing Sītā to divine personifications and celestial beings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s elevated, ‘goddess-like’ qualities are acknowledged even by an enemy—foreshadowing her steadfast moral strength.