Shloka 35

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

एतौ पादौ मया स्निग्धौ शिरोभिः परिपीडितौ।।3.55.35।।प्रसादं कुरु मे क्षिप्रं वश्यो दासोऽहमस्मिते।

Transliteration

etau pādau mayā snigdhau śirobhiḥ paripīḍitau | prasādaṃ kuru me kṣipraṃ vaśyo dāso 'ham asmi te || 3.55.35 ||

Translation

บาทอันผ่องพรายทั้งสองของท่าน ข้าพเจ้ากดแนบด้วยศีรษะด้วยความเคารพบูชา โปรดประทานเมตตาแก่ข้าโดยเร็วเถิด โอ้ผู้มีรอยยิ้มงาม ข้าคือทาสผู้ภักดี อยู่ในอำนาจของท่าน

Word by Word

• एतौ: these two
• एतौ: कर्ता (Karta; determiner of pādau)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• पादौ: feet (two)
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma/Object; of implied action 'I press')
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Karta/Agent; with passive participle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• स्निग्धौ: smooth, lovely
• स्निग्धौ: कर्म (Karma; qualifier of pādau)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• शिरोभिः: with (my) heads
• शिरोभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• परिपीडितौ: (are) pressed
• परिपीडितौ: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + पीड् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'pressed'

• प्रसादम्: favor, grace
• प्रसादम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुरु: do, grant
• कुरु: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: to me
• मे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्रम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/शीघ्रतावाचक (adverb of time/manner)

• वश्यः: submissive, under control
• वश्यः: कर्ता (Karta; predicate adjective of aham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दासः: slave
• दासः: कर्ता (Karta; predicate noun of aham)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्मिते: O smiling one
• स्मिते: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

I am bowing down, pressing my heads at your shining feet. I am at your mercy. Grant me your favourI will remain your slave and remain ever under your control.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva implied by heads)
• Sītā

FAQs

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

It warns that gestures of humility can be performative; dharma is measured by right action, not theatrical submission—especially when paired with continued coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa intensifies persuasion by adopting a posture of supplication, claiming he will be Sītā’s obedient servant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s discernment is foregrounded implicitly: she is not to be deceived by outward reverence when the underlying intent remains unrighteous.