Shloka 69
पुष्पकविमानवर्णनम्
Description of the Pushpaka Vimana and Ravana’s Inner Palace
युद्धकामेन ताः सर्वा रावणेन हृताः स्त्रियः।समदा मदनेनैव मोहिताः काश्चिदागताः।।5.9.69।।
yuddhakāmena tāḥ sarvā rāvaṇena hṛtāḥ striyaḥ |
samadā madanenaiva mohitāḥ kāścid āgatāḥ ||5.9.69||
All jene Frauen waren von Rāvaṇa aus seiner Kriegslust geraubt worden; und einige, von Begierde berauscht und betört, waren aus eigenem Antrieb dorthin gekommen.
'If the lawful wife of Rama born of a good family can be allowed to remain with Rama in the same way as the consorts of the lord of demons, how fortunate it would be, thought the wise lord of monkeys'.
FAQs
The verse distinguishes coercion from self-chosen attachment, underscoring a dharmic concern for agency: taking people by force is a grave adharma, while desire can also mislead when it eclipses discernment and truth.
In the inner quarters of Laṅkā, the narration accounts for how various women came to be in Rāvaṇa’s household—some abducted in war, some drawn by desire.
Moral clarity by contrast: the text prepares the reader for why Sītā’s case is uniquely grievous—she is neither a war-captive by convention nor a willing participant.