Shloka 14

रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च

Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka

Devanagari script

भुञ्जाना मानुषान्भोगान्दिव्यांश्च वरवर्णिनि।न स्मरिष्यसि रामस्य मानुषस्य गतायुषः।।।।

Transliteration

bhuñjānā mānuṣān bhogān divyāṃś ca varavarṇini | na smariṣyasi rāmasya mānuṣasya gatāyuṣaḥ ||

Translation

Hỡi phu nhân dung sắc tuyệt mỹ—đắm hưởng lạc thú của loài người và cả hoan lạc cõi trời, nàng sẽ chẳng còn nhớ đến Rāma, kẻ phàm nhân có thọ mạng mong manh.

Word by Word

• bhuñjānā: enjoying
• bhuñjānā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; while enjoying)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, parasmaipada sense), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• mānuṣān: human
• mānuṣān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of bhogān

• bhogān: pleasures
• bhogān: Karma (कर्म/object of enjoying)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• divyān: divine
• divyān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (understood with bhogān)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• vara-varṇini: O fair-complexioned lady
• vara-varṇini: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (वरः वर्णः यस्याः)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध

• smariṣyasi: you will remember
• smariṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; of Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• mānuṣasya: human
• mānuṣasya: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण of rāmasya

• gata-āyuṣaḥ: of short lifespan
• gata-āyuṣaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (गम् धातु, क्त) + āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (गतं आयुः यस्य = short-lived) qualifying rāmasya

Context

O blessed lady of fine complexion, while enjoying both human and heavenly pleasures with me there, you will not remember Rama who is a mortal of short lifespan.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates adharma through false valuation: reducing a person to mortality to undermine loyalty. Dharma upholds truth (satya) and constancy over pleasure-driven persuasion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa offers pleasures and simultaneously belittles Rāma to weaken Sītā’s resolve.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s satya—truthful fidelity to Rāma despite slander and inducement.