Shloka 18
रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्
Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita
विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां नानानगरमालिनीम्।।5.20.18।।जनकाय प्रदास्यामि तव हेतोर्विलासिनि।
vijitya pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ nānā-nagara-mālinīm || 5.20.18 ||
janakāya pradāsyāmi tava hetor vilāsini |
Hỡi giai nhân duyên dáng, sau khi ta chinh phục trọn cõi địa cầu—đất nước kết thành tràng hoa bởi muôn thành quách—ta sẽ dâng tất cả ấy lên vua Janaka, vì nàng.
"O lovely lady! I will win all the cities and lands and give them to Janaka for your sake.
FAQs
Dharma rejects bribery and unjust conquest as means to win legitimacy. The offer to ‘gift’ conquered land underscores adharma: violence and coercion cannot become righteous through donation.
Rāvaṇa promises to conquer the world and present it to Sītā’s father Janaka, framing aggression as a romantic and diplomatic offering.
Sītā’s loyalty and moral clarity—she cannot be ‘won’ by promises of power or political advantage.