Shloka 4

रावणस्य परिव्राजकवेषेण सीतासमीपगमनम्

Ravana Approaches Sita Disguised as a Mendicant

Devanagari script

तामाससादातिबलो भ्रातृभ्यां रहितां वने।।।।रहितां चन्द्रसूर्याभ्यां सन्ध्यामिव महत्तमः।

Transliteration

tām āsasāda atibalo bhrātṛbhyāṃ rahitāṃ vane |

rahitāṃ candrasūryābhyāṃ sandhyām iva mahattamaḥ ||

Translation

ผู้ทรงกำลังยิ่ง (ราวณะ) เข้าประชิดนางในป่า เมื่อปราศจากสองพี่น้องนั้น—ดุจความมืดทึบคลุมยามสนธยา เมื่อทั้งสุริยันและจันทราไม่ปรากฏ

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म) of āsasāda
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana; sarvanāma

• āsasāda: approached/reached
• āsasāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+√sad (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• atibalaḥ: the very mighty one
• atibalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/Nominative), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya ‘exceedingly strong’

• bhrātṛbhyām: with (her) two brothers
• bhrātṛbhyām: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/Instrumental), Dvivacana

• rahitām: deprived of/without
• rahitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana; agrees with tām

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana

• rahitām: bereft of
• rahitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of upamāna
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana; agrees with sandhyām; predicative adjective

• candra-sūryābhyām: by the moon and the sun
• candra-sūryābhyām: Hetu/Apādāna-sense (cause of absence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (dvandva), Tṛtīyā (3rd/Instrumental), Dvivacana; itaretara-dvandva

• sandhyām: twilight
• sandhyām: Upamāna (उपमान) with iva
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana; object of implied comparison

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya (comparative particle)

• mahattamaḥ: the great darkness
• mahattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as subject of implied ‘was like’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/Nominative), Ekavacana; superlative (तमप्) form; used for ‘great darkness’

Context

Ravana was observing the princess from Mithila, wife of a king inviting him and speaking to him in cordial manner. Looking at her, he resolved to abduct her forcibly, inviting his own death.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• forest (Daṇḍaka context)
• sun
• moon
• twilight (sandhyā)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma exploits isolation and vulnerability; dharma therefore includes protection of the vulnerable and restraint from predatory opportunism.

What is the narrative situation?

With Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa absent, Rāvaṇa closes in on Sītā, setting the stage for deception and abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through the darkness simile), the virtue implied is guardianship and responsibility—what the brothers normally provide—showing why protection is a dharmic duty.