Shloka 2

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita

Devanagari script

मां दृष्ट्वा नागनासोरु गूहमाना स्तनोदरम्।अदर्शनमिवात्मानं भयान्नेतुं त्वमिच्छसि।।5.20.2।।

Transliteration

māṃ dṛṣṭvā nāganāsoru gūhamānā stanodaram | adarśanam ivātmānaṃ bhayān netuṃ tvam icchasi || 5.20.2 ||

Translation

Thấy ta, hỡi nàng có đùi như vòi voi, nàng che giấu ngực và bụng; như vì sợ hãi mà muốn khiến mình trở nên vô hình trước mắt ta.

Word by Word

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• nāga-nāsa-ūru: O one whose thighs are like an elephant's trunk
• nāga-nāsa-ūru: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + nāsā (प्रातिपदिक) + ūru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (nāgasya nāsā iva ūrū yasyāḥ)

• gūhamānā: concealing
• gūhamānā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √guh (धातु) + gūhamāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (concealing)

• stana-udaram: breasts and belly
• stana-udaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (stanaś ca udaraṃ ca)

• adarśanam: invisibility/being unseen
• adarśanam: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास (non-visibility)

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamana-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक निपात

• ātmānam: yourself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतौ अपादानार्थे (ablative of cause)

• netum: to lead/take away
• netum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √nī (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• icchasi: wish/desire
• icchasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (परस्मैपद), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Context

"On seeing me, Sita, you want to conceal your thighs, belly and breasts through fear of me. I think you do not want me to see you.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a breach of dharma: fear and coercion replace consent and respect. In the Ramayana’s ethical frame, forcing attention upon a vulnerable person is adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s Aśoka-vana, Rāvaṇa approaches the captive Sītā and speaks to her in an attempt to dominate and persuade her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s modesty and self-protective restraint are implied; her fear-driven withdrawal underscores her steadfast refusal to accept wrongdoing.