Shloka 16
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः
Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply
यथा दृप्तश्च मातङ्गः शशश्च सद्दृशो युधि।तथा मातङ्गवद्रामस्त्वं नीच: शशवत् स्मृतः।।।।
yathā dṛptaś ca mātaṅgaḥ śaśaś ca saddṛśo yudhi |tathā mātaṅgavad rāmas tvaṃ nīcaḥ śaśavat smṛtaḥ ||
Wie im Kampf ein stolzer Elefant und ein bloßer Hase kein ebenbürtiges Gegenüber sind, so ist Rāma wie der Elefant — du aber, Niedriger, wirst als der Hase erinnert.
"It is like a proud elephant fighting in war with a rabbit. Rama is like an elephant and you are like an ordinary rabbit people speak of.
FAQs
Dharma condemns arrogance rooted in wrongdoing; Sītā states a truth meant to puncture Rāvaṇa’s pride and reveal the imbalance between dharmic power and adharmic posturing.
Sītā continues her rebuke, asserting that Rāvaṇa is no match for Rāma, using a battle-simile (elephant vs. hare).
Moral confidence: Sītā’s certainty in Rāma’s dharmic strength and her refusal to be psychologically dominated.