Shloka 24
सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः
Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove
शृणु मैथिलि मद्वाक्यं मासान्द्वादश भामिनि।।।।कालेनानेन नाभ्येषि यदि मां चारुहासिनि।ततस्त्वां प्रातराशार्थं सूदाश्छेत्स्यन्ति लेशशः।।।।
śṛṇu maithili madvākyaṃ māsān dvādaśa bhāmini |
kālenānena nābhyēṣi yadi māṃ cāruhāsini |
tatas tvāṃ prātarāśārthaṃ sūdāś chetsyanti leśaśaḥ ||
„Hör zu, Prinzessin von Mithila – du Schöne mit dem süßen Lächeln – höre meine Worte. Wenn du mich nicht binnen dieser zwölf Monate akzeptierst, werden meine Köche dich für mein Frühstück in kleine Stücke schneiden.“
O comely princess from Mithila, O lady with a sweet smile! listen to my words. If you do not accept my hand in the course of twelve months, the cooks will cut you off into small bits for the (my) breakfast.
FAQs
The verse illustrates adharma by example: forcing consent through fear and violence is a direct violation of righteousness and truth; dharma rejects coercion and cruelty.
Rāvaṇa, angered by Sītā’s refusal, issues a deadline and threatens brutal harm to compel her submission.
By contrast, Sītā’s chastity and steadfast loyalty to Rāma stand out, since only extreme threats are used against her unwavering commitment.