Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 5
सीताभर्त्सना
The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
मानुषी मानुषं तं तु राममिच्छसि शोभने।राज्याद्भ्र्रष्टमसिद्धार्थं विक्लबं त्वमनिन्दिते।।5.24.5।।
mānuṣī mānuṣaṃ taṃ tu rāmam icchasi śobhane | rājyād bhraṣṭam asiddhārthaṃ viklabaṃ tvam anindite ||5.24.5||
“O lovely, blameless woman—though you are a woman yourself, you still long for that mere human, Rāma: cast out from his kingdom, unsuccessful in his aims, and broken in spirit.”
'I have developed a morbid desire to feast upon this woman with eyes flashing like doe's, whose breasts heave with stress and fear after she was abducted by Ravana.
FAQs
The verse highlights an adharma-driven attempt to break marital fidelity and righteousness by belittling Rāma; Dharma here is implied through Sītā’s steadfast commitment to truth and loyalty despite psychological pressure.
In Aśoka-vana, the guarding rākṣasīs try to persuade and intimidate Sītā, attacking her devotion to Rāma by portraying him as powerless and disgraced.
Sītā’s śīla (moral integrity) and satya-niṣṭhā (steadfastness to truth) are emphasized indirectly, as the speech is designed to shake her resolve but sets the stage for her unwavering Dharma.