Shloka 3.2.17
Virādha-saṃvādaḥ — Encounter with Virādha in the Daṇḍakāraṇya (Aranya Kanda, Sarga 2)
पश्य सौम्य नरेन्द्रस्य जनकस्यात्मसम्भवाम्।मम भार्यां शुभाचारां विराधाङ्के प्रवेशिताम्।।।।अत्यन्तसुखसंमव़ृद्धां राजपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्।
paśya saumya narendrasya janakasyātmasambhavām |
mama bhāryāṃ śubhācārāṃ virādhāṅke praveśitām ||
atyantasukhasaṃvṛddhāṃ rājaputrīṃ yaśasvinīm ||3.2.17||
“Look, gentle one—Janaka’s illustrious daughter, my wife of noble conduct, reared in the highest comfort, the renowned princess—has been forced into Virādha’s lap!”
Gentle Lakshmana, see the illustrious daughter ofJanaka, a lady of good conduct, brought up in utmost comfort caught in the lap of Viradha!
Dharma here highlights safeguarding dignity: the outrage is not merely personal but rooted in the protection owed to a virtuous person subjected to violation.
Rāma draws Lakṣmaṇa’s attention to Sītā—royally raised and virtuous—now seized and dishonored by Virādha.
Rāma’s reverence for Sītā’s character and status, and his insistence that such virtue must be defended.