Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 15
राक्षसी-भर्त्सना
The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā
अन्या तु विकटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।असकृद्देवता युद्धे नागगन्धर्वदानवाः।निर्जिताः समरे येन स ते पार्श्वमुपागतः।।।।
anyā tu vikaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyam abravīt | asakṛd devatā yuddhe nāga-gandharva-dānavāḥ | nirjitāḥ samare yena sa te pārśvam upāgataḥ ||
وتكلّمت رākṣasī أخرى تُدعى فيكَطا (Vikaṭā): «ذاك الذي هُزِمَت على يديه الآلهةُ (deva) مرارًا في الحرب، والذي قهر في المعركة الناغا (nāga) والغندهرفا (gandharva) والدانافا (dānava)—قد أتى الآن إلى جانبك».
'O foolish woman! why don't you seek the wifehood of a glorious king of demons who has abundance of wealth?'
FAQs
It critiques the fallacy that victory equals righteousness. Dharma is not proven by conquest; true legitimacy rests on justice, restraint, and truth—not mere power.
Vikaṭā tries to intimidate and persuade Sītā by advertising Rāvaṇa’s military dominance over divine and semi-divine beings.
Sītā’s moral clarity: she is expected (by the epic’s ethical frame) to distinguish dharma from brute force and refuse unrighteous proposals.
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