Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 46
मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्
The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma
सविद्युज्जिह्वेनसहैवतच्छिरोधनुश्चभूमौविनिकीर्यरावणः ।विदेहराजस्यसुतांयशस्विनींततोऽब्रवीत्तांभवमेवशानुगा ।।।।
sa vidyujjihvena sahaiva tacchiro dhanuś ca bhūmau vinikīrya rāvaṇaḥ |
videharājasya sutāṃ yaśasvinīṃ tato 'bravīt tāṃ bhava meva vaśānugā ||
Then Rāvaṇa, together with Vidyujjihva, set that head and the bow down upon the ground; and he said to the illustrious daughter of the king of Videha: “Now become obedient to my will.”
When the Rakshasa king had spoken that way to Vidyujihvam, he said, "Be it so." Pleased with the dexterous production of Vidyujihvam, Ravana presented to him a beautiful ornament.
FAQs
It condemns coercion and exploitation: demanding submission through fear and false proof violates dharma and satya. The Ramayana repeatedly frames forced consent as adharma.
After staging the illusion with the head and bow, Rāvaṇa directly pressures Sītā to accept him.
Sītā’s steadfastness (pativratā-dharma) is tested; her moral autonomy stands against coercive power.