Shloka 8
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः
Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply
द्वौ मासौ रक्षितव्यौ मे योऽवधिस्ते मया कृतः।ततः शयनमारोह मम त्वं वरवर्णिनि।।।।
dvau māsau rakṣitavyau me yo 'vadhis te mayā kṛtaḥ | tataḥ śayanam āroha mama tvaṃ varavarṇini ||
Zwei Monate sind die Frist, die ich dir gesetzt habe, und ich werde warten; danach, o Frau von schöner Farbe, musst du mein Lager teilen.
"I shall wait for two months, the deadline fixed. O lady of beautiful hue! thereafter you have to share my bed.
FAQs
Dharma rejects coercion and exploitation: Rāvaṇa’s ‘deadline’ and demand violate marital ethics, consent, and protection owed to a captive—showing adharma as domination rather than righteous rule.
Rāvaṇa sets a time limit for Sītā to submit to him and issues an explicit sexual threat.
Sītā’s steadfast chastity and loyalty (pativratā-dharma) are emphasized by the pressure placed upon her to abandon them.