Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 36

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

कुसुमिततरुजालसन्ततानि भ्रमरयुतानि समुद्रतीरजानि।कनकविमलहारभूषिताङ्गी विहर मया सह भीरु काननानि।।5.20.36।।

Transliteration

kusumitatarujālasantatāni bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni | kanakavimalahārabhūṣitāṅgī vihara mayā saha bhīru kānanāni || 5.20.36 ||

Translation

سمندر کے کنارے کے اُن جنگلی کنانوں میں—جہاں پھولوں سے لدے درختوں کی قطاریں ہیں اور بھونروں کی گونج بسی ہے—اے پاک سنہری ہار سے آراستہ، اے ڈرپوک سُندری! میرے ساتھ سیر و تفریح کر۔

Word by Word

• कुसुमित-तरु-जाल-सन्ततानि: stretches continuous with nets/groups of blossoming trees
• कुसुमित-तरु-जाल-सन्ततानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुसुमित (कृदन्त) + तरु (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• भ्रमर-युतानि: accompanied by bees
• भ्रमर-युतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रमर (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• समुद्र-तीर-जानि: born on the seashore
• समुद्र-तीर-जानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• कनक-विमल-हार-भूषित-अङ्गी: O lady whose limbs are adorned with a pure golden necklace
• कनक-विमल-हार-भूषित-अङ्गी: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + विमल (प्रातिपदिक) + हार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त) + अङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्याः अङ्गानि ... भूषितानि सा' (one whose limbs are adorned...)

• विहर: enjoy / roam
• विहर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विहर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मया: by/with me
• मया: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd, Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह-प्रयोगः (postposition meaning 'with')

• भीरु: O timid one
• भीरु: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• काननानि: forest-groves
• काननानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

Context

"O Sita! no human or demon. who can take any form at their will can relieve your fear born of me.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā
• samudra (sea)

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches that beauty and pleasure cannot cleanse wrongdoing; enticing imagery is used to mask coercion, but satya and righteousness remain the measure of what is acceptable.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa concludes his persuasive sequence with a vivid invitation to sensual enjoyment in idyllic seaside groves.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s unwavering chastity and commitment to truth: she does not let sensory allure distract her from dharma.