Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 55: Rāvaṇa Flatters Sītā
Text 3.55.13
दर्शयित्वा तु वैदेह्याः कृत्स्नं तद्भवनोत्तमम्।
उवाच वाक्यं पापात्मा सीतां लोभितुमिच्छया॥
darśayitvā tu vaidehyāḥ kṛtsnaṁ tad bhavanottamam
uvāca vākyaṁ pāpātmā sītāṁ lobhitum icchayā
darśayitvā tu = having showed; vaidehyāḥ = to the princess of Videha; kṛtsnam = in its entirety; tat = that; bhavana-uttamam = excellent residence; uvāca = spoke; vākyam = the following words; pāpa-ātmā = that sinful soul; sītām = Sītā-devī; lobhitum icchayā = with a desire to make her covet [everything he had shown].
Having showed Sītā-devī that excellent residence in its entirety, that sinful soul spoke the following words to the princess of Videha with a desire to make her covet [everything he had shown].
NOTE. Because Rāvaṇa was personally obsessed with various material opulences, he foolishly considered that Sītā-devī would also be so.
Actually, those who seriously desire material opulences cannot even become resolutely desirous of rendering pure devotional service unto the Supreme Lord, as noted by Lord Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā 2.44:
bhogaiśvarya-prasaktānāṁ tayāpahṛta-cetasām
vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ samādhau na vidhīyate
“In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place.”