Shloka 36
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः
Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply
यथा मद्वशगा सीता क्षिप्रं भवति जानकी।।।।तथा कुरुत राक्षस्यः सर्वाः क्षिप्रं समेत्य च।
yathā mad-vaśagā sītā kṣipraṃ bhavati jānakī |
tathā kuruta rākṣasyaḥ sarvāḥ kṣipraṃ sametya ca ||
Ihr alle, Rākṣasīs, kommt schnell zusammen und handelt so, dass Janakī — Sītā — sogleich meinem Willen unterworfen wird.
Of them one had one eye, the other one ear, another with ears covered, one had the ear of a cow, another had ears of an elephant and yet another, long, hanging ears. One had the feet of an elephant, another, hoofs of a horse and still another of a cow. While one had a single foot, another had broad feet and yet another no feet at all. One had a long neck and a large head. One had large breasts and belly. One had a big face and eyes, another had a long tongue and yet another no tongue at all. One had no nose and still another had a lion face and yet another the face of a cow.
FAQs
Dharma condemns forcing another’s will; consent and righteousness matter. The verse illustrates adharma as domination backed by a coercive system.
Rāvaṇa instructs the demonesses to collectively pressure Sītā into accepting him.
Sītā’s integrity (śīla) is the silent counterpoint—her refusal to submit despite coordinated pressure.