Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 24
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः
Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply
नीलजीमूतसङ्काशो महाभुजशिरोधरः।सिंहसत्त्वगतिः श्रीमान् दीप्त जिह्वाग्रलोचनः।।।।
nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśo mahābhujaśirodharaḥ | siṁhasattvagatiḥ śrīmān dīptajihvāgralocanaḥ ||
তিনি নীল মেঘপুঞ্জের ন্যায়—প্রশস্ত বাহু ও স্থূল গ্রীবাধারী; সিংহের মতো বলশালী গতি, শ্রীমন্ত, দীপ্ত নয়ন ও জিহ্বাযুক্ত।
Prosperous Ravana looked like a mass of dark cloud, with strong arms, stout neck, gait of a lion, a blazing tongue and burning eyes;
FAQs
External splendor and power are ethically neutral; without dharma they become instruments of fear and oppression.
The narration shifts to a vivid physical description of Rāvaṇa as he reacts to Sītā, heightening the sense of threat.
Implicitly, discernment: the text contrasts imposing appearance with moral deficiency, teaching that dharma—not might—defines greatness.