Shloka 2
सीताव्यथा
वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement
तस्मिन्नेव ततः काले राजपुत्री त्वनिन्दिता।रूपयौवनसम्पन्नं भूषणोत्तमभूषितम्।।5.19.1।।ततो दृष्ट्वैव वैदेही रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्।प्रावेपत वरारोहा प्रवाते कदली यथा।।5.19.2।।
tato dṛṣṭvaiva vaidehī rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam |
prāvepata varārohā pravāte kadalī yathā ||
Als Vaidehī den Rāvaṇa, den Herrn der rākṣasas, erblickte, erbebte die Schlanktaillige sogleich, wie ein Bananenbaum im heftigen Wind erzittert.
She resembled reputation besmirched by scandals, like Vedic studies slackened by lack of aplication. (Knowledge is verified with a suitable statment of the Veda which is the ultimate test of ones finding. This method is adopted in all Astika sastras which accept the authority of the Veda).
FAQs
The verse highlights the moral violence of adharma: the presence of the abductor (Rāvaṇa) produces fear in the innocent. Dharma protects the vulnerable; adharma rules through intimidation.
In Laṅkā, Sītā sees Rāvaṇa (approaching or present) and immediately trembles—showing her distress and the threatening atmosphere of captivity.
Sītā’s inner purity and fidelity are implied: though shaken by fear, she remains morally unyielding, underscoring steadfastness to satya and marital dharma.