Shloka 1
सीताव्यथा
वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement
तस्मिन्नेव ततः काले राजपुत्री त्वनिन्दिता।रूपयौवनसम्पन्नं भूषणोत्तमभूषितम्।।।।ततो दृष्ट्वैव वैदेही रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्।प्रावेपत वरारोहा प्रवाते कदली यथा।।।।
tasminn eva tataḥ kāle rājaputrī tv aninditā |
rūpayauvanasampannaṃ bhūṣaṇottamabhūṣitam ||
tato dṛṣṭvaiva vaidehī rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam |
prāvepata varārohā pravāte kadalī yathā ||
In eben jener Stunde erbebte die untadelige Königstochter Vaidehī, als sie Rāvaṇa, den Herrn der rākṣasas, sah — von jugendlicher Schönheit erfüllt und mit den erlesensten Schmuckstücken geziert — wie eine Bananenstaude, die ein heftiger Wind erschüttert.
Watching the garden filled with trees, gateways ornamented with gold and gems, he entered through the pleasant pathways in the Ashoka garden. There were wonderful wolves and several herds of animals in the garden. Fruits dropped from trees were strewn all over.
FAQs
Dharma is upheld through steadfastness even when fear arises; Sītā’s blamelessness and fidelity remain intact despite intimidation.
Sītā sees Rāvaṇa approaching in the grove and physically trembles from fear and shock.
Moral steadfastness (śīla) under coercion: fear does not translate into consent or surrender of principles.