Shloka 26

रावणस्य परिव्राजकवेषेण सीतासमीपगमनम्

Ravana Approaches Sita Disguised as a Mendicant

Devanagari script

वरं माल्यं वरं भोज्यं वरं वस्त्रं च शोभने।भर्तारं च वरं मन्ये त्वद्युक्तमसितेक्षणे।।।।

Transliteration

varaṃ mālyaṃ varaṃ bhोजyaṃ varaṃ vastraṃ ca śobhane | bhartāraṃ ca varaṃ manye tvad-yuktam asitekṣaṇe ||

Translation

โอ้สตรีผู้เลอโฉม ดวงตาดำขลับ พวงมาลัยชั้นเลิศ อาหารอันประณีต และอาภรณ์งามเลิศล้วนเหมาะแก่ท่าน; และข้าพเจ้าถือว่า สามีผู้ประเสริฐซึ่งคู่ควรกับท่าน ก็ควรเป็นของท่านด้วย

Word by Word

• varam: excellent/choice
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular; 'excellent' (used repeatedly)

• mālyam: garland
• mālyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular

• varam: excellent
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bhojyam: food (to be eaten)
• bhojyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular

• varam: excellent
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vastram: clothing
• vastram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• śobhane: O beautiful one
• śobhane: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śobhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular (address)

• bhartāram: husband
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• varam: excellent
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative singular; विशेषणम् (qualifying bhartāram)

• manye: I think/consider
• manye: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• tvad-yuktam: fit for you
• tvad-yuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'suitable for you'; समासः: त्वयि/तव युक्तम्

• asitekṣaṇe: O black-eyed lady
• asitekṣaṇe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asita + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; Vocative; समासः: असिते ईक्षणे यस्याः (black-eyed)

Context

O beautiful, black-eyed lady, I think you deserve the best of garlands, best of food,and clothes and a suitable husband.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (implied addressee)

FAQs

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

It indirectly foregrounds marital dharma: offering “a suitable husband” to a married woman is an ethical violation; dharma upholds fidelity, consent, and respect for established bonds.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa escalates from praise to proposal-like persuasion, presenting luxury and a ‘better’ spouse as inducements.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Patnīvrata/faithfulness is emphasized—Sītā’s unwavering loyalty to Rāma stands as the narrative’s moral center against such temptation.