Shloka 21
राक्षसी-भर्त्सना
The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā
साधु ते तत्त्वतो देवि कथितं साधु भामिनि।।।।गृहाण सुस्मिते वाक्यमन्यथा न भविष्यसि।
sādhu te tattvato devi kathitaṃ sādhu bhāmini |
gṛhāṇa susmite vākyam anyathā na bhaviṣyasi ||
O Königin, o schöne Dame: Was dir gesagt wurde, ist wahrhaft gut und zu deinem Heil. Nimm diese Worte an, o sanft Lächelnde; sonst wirst du nicht am Leben bleiben.
'O beautiful lady with a gentle smile! we have tendered good advice to you wishing you well. Accept this advice or else you may not be alive.'ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē trayōviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends the twentythird sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
The speakers claim they are stating the truth (tattvataḥ) and offering “good counsel,” but their words function as coercion and a threat; the episode highlights how true dharma is not merely asserting “truth” but upholding righteousness without violence or intimidation—something Sītā embodies by refusing adharma despite fear.
These epithets address Sītā. The rākṣasīs use honorific and flattering language to pressure her into compliance, mixing seeming respect with intimidation—an ethical contrast to Sītā’s steadfast adherence to truth and fidelity.