Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 2
सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः
Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana
दुःखार्ता रुदती सीता वेपमाना तपस्विनी।चिन्तयन्ती वरारोहा पतिमेव पतिव्रता।।।।तृणमन्तरतः कृत्वा प्रत्युवाच शुचिस्मिता।
duḥkhārtā rudatī sītā vepamānā tapasvinī | cintayantī varārohā patim eva pativratā || tṛṇam antarataḥ kṛtvā pratyuvāca śucismitā ||
كانت سيتا، مكلومةً بالحزن، تبكي وترتجف؛ زاهدةً جميلةَ القوام، لا ترى زوجًا سوى زوجها. وضعت عودَ عشبٍ بينها وبين (رافَنا)، ثم أجابت بابتسامةٍ طاهرةٍ رقيقة.
Sita, austere, beautiful and chaste afflicted by grief kept sobbing. Brooding over her husband and trembling in fear, she placed a blade of grass in between her and Ravana and replied with a gentle smile on her face.
FAQs
Dharma includes maintaining moral and physical boundaries; Sītā symbolically asserts separation from adharma by placing grass between herself and Rāvaṇa.
In captivity in Aśoka-vana, Sītā—terrified yet resolute—prepares to answer Rāvaṇa’s advances and threats.
Chastity and inner discipline (tapas): despite distress, Sītā preserves dignity and resolves to speak truthfully.