Shloka 3.32.12
अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः — Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might
क्षेप्तारं पर्वतेन्द्राणां सुराणां च प्रमर्दनम्।उच्छेत्तारं च धर्माणां परदाराभिमर्शनम्।।।।
kṣeptāraṃ parvatendrāṇāṃ surāṇāṃ ca pramardanam | ucchettāraṃ ca dharmāṇāṃ paradārābhimarśanam || 3.32.12 ||
He was one who could hurl mighty mountains, who tormented even the gods; a root-destroyer of dharma, and one who violated others’ wives.
(He was) one who could lift and throw great mountains, torment even gods, violate dharma at the root, and cast an evil eye on the wives of others.
It directly marks ‘paradāra’ (another’s spouse) as a boundary of dharma and portrays its violation as a hallmark of adharma, regardless of power or prowess.
The text characterizes Rāvaṇa’s nature and reputation, foreshadowing the ethical transgression of abducting Sītā.
A negative exemplar: the absence of restraint and respect for marital dharma, presented as moral failing rather than virtue.