Shloka 19
युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च
Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel
सातुसंवत्सरंकालंमामयाचतभामिनी ।।6.12.18।।प्रतीक्षमाणाभर्तारंराममायतलोचना ।तन्मयाचारुनेत्रायःप्रतिज्ञातंवचश्शुभम् ।।6.12.19।।श्रान्तोऽहंसततंकामाद्यातोहयइवाध्वनि ।
sā tu saṃvatsaraṃ kālaṃ mām ayācata bhāminī |
pratīkṣamāṇā bhartāraṃ rāmam āyatalocanā ||6.12.18||
tan mayā cārunetrāyāḥ pratijñātaṃ vacaḥ śubham ||6.12.19||
śrānto 'haṃ satataṃ kāmād yāto haya ivādhvani |
Nàng—người nữ mắt dài rộng—trong khi chờ phu quân là Rāma, đã xin ta một thời hạn trọn một năm. Ta cũng đã nói với người đẹp mắt ấy lời hứa cát tường. Thế nhưng, bị dục vọng thúc bách, ta luôn mỏi mệt—như con ngựa kiệt sức trên đường dài.
"Broadeyed Sita requested me one year time expecting her husband Rama to come (this is a false statement made by Ravana here) and I promised in turn to Sita of beautiful eyes. Just like an exhausted horse that marched I am tired on account of my passion."
FAQs
It foregrounds satya and the sanctity of promises (pratijñā), while also showing how adharma manipulates truth; dharma requires truthful speech and honoring rightful relationships.
Rāvaṇa claims Sītā requested a year to wait for Rāma and that he promised accordingly, while confessing his exhaustion from desire—revealing inner conflict and potential deceit.
The ideal virtue is satya (truthfulness) and integrity in promises; the passage, however, is framed through a speaker whose desire tends toward distortion of truth.