Shloka 11
सीता-रावण-संवादः
Sītā–Rāvaṇa Dialogue in the Aśoka Grove
ततः स राजा सिन्धूनां वार्द्ध॑क्षत्रिर्जयद्रथ: । विस्मितस्त्वनवद्याड़ीं दृष्टवा तां दुष्टमानस:,निर्दोष अंगोंवाली उस सुन्दरीको देखकर वृद्धक्षत्र-कुमार सिन्धुराज जयद्रथ चकित रह गया। उसके मनमें दूषित भावनाका उदय हुआ
tataḥ sa rājā sindhūnāṃ vṛddhakṣatrir jayadrathaḥ | vismitas tv anavadyāṅgīṃ dṛṣṭvā tāṃ duṣṭamānasaḥ ||
ثم إن جايادراثا، ملك السِّندهو—من نسل فْرِدْدهاكشَتْرا—دهش حين رأى تلك السيدة كاملة الأعضاء لا عيب فيها. غير أن ذهنه انقلب إلى فساد، ونهضت في داخله شهوةٌ دنيئة، ممهدةً لعملٍ تقوده الأدهرما ضد امرأةٍ بريئة.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts outer beauty with inner discipline: a ruler may be impressed by virtue and beauty, yet if the mind becomes duṣṭa (corrupted), desire turns into adharma. It warns that ethical failure begins as a mental distortion, especially dangerous in those with power.
Vaishampayana narrates that Jayadratha, king of Sindhu and descendant of Vṛddhakṣatra, sees a faultless-limbed woman and is amazed; however, his mind becomes tainted, foreshadowing his wrongful intentions and the ensuing conflict.