Shloka 19

रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्

Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita

Devanagari script

परिक्षिप्ता समुद्रेण लङ्केयं शतयोजना।नेयं धर्षयितुं शक्या सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः।।3.55.19।।

Transliteration

parikṣiptā samudreṇa laṅkeyaṃ śatayojanā |

neyaṃ dharṣayituṃ śakyā sendrair api surāsuraiḥ ||3.55.19||

Translation

此楞迦方圆百由旬，四面为大海所环绕；纵使天神与阿修罗同来，连因陀罗在内，也无法攻取。

Word by Word

• परिक्षिप्ता: surrounded
• परिक्षिप्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-क्षिप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nominative singular)

• समुद्रेण: by the sea
• समुद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• लङ्का: Lanka
• लङ्का: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nominative singular)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nominative singular)

• शतयोजना: a hundred-yojanas in extent
• शतयोजना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + योजना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound) ‘शतं योजनानि यस्याः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nominative singular)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• इयम्: this (Lanka)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nominative singular)

• धर्षयितुम्: to assault; to violate
• धर्षयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive)

• शक्या: possible
• शक्या: Vidhaya (विधेय/प्रेडिकेट)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-योग्यतावाचक)
• Form: योग्यता-वाचक कृदन्त/विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (nominative singular)

• सेन्द्रैः: by (gods) with Indra
• सेन्द्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सह-समास/उपपद) ‘इन्द्रसहितैः’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• सुरासुरैः: by gods and demons
• सुरासुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

Context

Do not think otherwise. Be good and accept my request. I am consumed by thoughts of you. You should be gracious to me.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Samudra (the sea)
• Indra
• Suras (gods)
• Asuras (demons)
• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches that apparent invincibility does not convert wrongdoing into right; power-based threats remain Adharma and are ultimately unstable before truth (satya).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa attempts to intimidate Sītā by claiming Laṅkā is unassailable, implying resistance is futile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s fearlessness rooted in righteousness is the implied virtue: dharmic steadfastness does not depend on worldly odds.