Shloka 12

सीताहरणम्

Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita

Devanagari script

मां भजस्व चिराय त्वमहं श्लाघ्यः प्रियस्तव।।3.49.12।।नैव चाहं क्वचिद्भद्रे करिष्ये तव विप्रियम्।त्यज्यतां मानुषे भावो मयि भावः प्रणीयताम्।।3.49.13।।

Transliteration

māṃ bhajasva cirāya tvam ahaṃ ślāghyaḥ priyas tava | naiva cāhaṃ kvacid bhadre kariṣye tava vipriyam | tyajyatāṃ mānuṣe bhāvo mayi bhāvaḥ praṇīyatām ||

Translation

“จงรับเราไว้เนิ่นนานเถิด เราเป็นผู้ควรสรรเสริญและจะเป็นที่รักของเจ้า โอ้สตรีผู้เป็นมงคล เราจะไม่ทำให้เจ้าขุ่นเคืองเลย จงละความผูกพันต่อมนุษย์ผู้สามัญ แล้วหันความรักมาสู่เรา”

Word by Word

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• भजस्व: accept/choose (me)
• भजस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• चिराय: for a long time
• चिराय: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial dative usage), कालवाचक (time-expression)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्लाघ्यः: praiseworthy
• श्लाघ्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लाघ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रियः: beloved (husband)
• प्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); भावे/व्यवहारे ‘प्रियः’ = प्रियतमः/पतिः (beloved/husband)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

I am your praiseworthy husband. I will not cause any unpleasantness to you at any time. Abandon on your inclination towards, a (mere) mortal. Divert your love to me.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• Rāma (implied by 'mānuṣe bhāvaḥ'—attachment to a human)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires honoring consent, marriage, and truthfulness in intention. Rāvaṇa’s promises are ethically hollow because they aim to legitimize wrongful desire and undermine Sītā’s lawful bond.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa escalates from praise to direct solicitation, promising safety and pleasure while urging Sītā to renounce Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s satya (truthfulness) and niṣṭhā (steadfast commitment) are the virtues challenged by persuasion and threat.