Shloka 21
सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः
Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove
इदं शरीरं निस्संज्ञं बन्ध वा खातयस्व वा।नेदं शरीरं रक्षयं मे जीवितं वापि राक्षस।।।।न तु शक्ष्याम्युपक्रोशं पृथिव्यां दातुमात्मनः।
idaṃ śarīraṃ nissaṃjñaṃ bandha vā khātayasva vā | nedaṃ śarīraṃ rakṣyaṃ me jīvitaṃ vāpi rākṣasa || na tu śakṣyāmy upakrośaṃ pṛthivyāṃ dātum ātmanaḥ |
Dieser Körper ist nun gefühllos – fessle ihn oder begrabe ihn, wenn du willst. Für mich sind weder dieser Körper noch das Leben selbst es wert, bewahrt zu werden; doch ich werde nicht zulassen, dass mein Name auf Erden der Schande preisgegeben wird.
How can a female swan ever sporting in lotus-ponds in the company of a royal swan look at the water-crow resting on a grassy land?
FAQs
Dharma is valued above bodily survival: protecting moral integrity and reputation for chastity is presented as higher than preserving life.
Sītā, held by Rāvaṇa, declares she would rather face death than accept dishonor or be branded unchaste.
Sītā’s uncompromising honor, self-restraint, and truthfulness—choosing dharma over fear.