Shloka 1
सीताविलापः
Sita’s Lament and Resolve under Threat
सा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वचो निशम्य तद्रावणस्याप्रियमप्रियार्ता।सीता वितत्रास यथा वनान्ते सिंहाभिपन्ना गजराजकन्या।।5.28.1।।
sā rākṣasendrasya vaco niśamya tad rāvaṇasyāpriyam apriyārtā | sītā vitatrāsa yathā vanānte siṁhābhipannā gajarāja-kanyā || 5.28.1 ||
Als Sītā die unerfreulichen Worte Rāvaṇas, des Herrn der Rākṣasas, vernahm, erbebte sie, von Kummer getroffen, vor Angst—wie ein junges Elefantenkalb, das im tiefen Wald von einem Löwen gepackt wird.
After hearing the unpleasant words spoken by the king of demons, which caused restlessness and sorrow to Sita, she was terrified like the young calf of a lordly elephant fallen into the clutches of a lion in the midst of the forest.
FAQs
Adharma manifests as intimidation and coercion; dharma is implied by the moral condemnation of such speech and the recognition of the victim’s plight.
Immediately after Rāvaṇa’s harsh and threatening words in Aśoka-vana, Sītā is overwhelmed with fear.
Sītā’s moral steadfastness is presupposed: though terrified, she remains the wronged party who does not yield to unrighteous pressure.