Shloka 3.45.5
सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama (The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’)
सौमित्रे मित्ररूपेण भ्रातुस्त्वमसि शत्रुवत्।।3.45.5।।यस्त्वमस्यामवस्थायां भ्रातरं नाभिपत्स्यसे।
pibāmy ahaṁ viṣaṁ tīkṣṇaṁ pravekṣyāmi hutāśanam | na tv ahaṁ rāghavād anyaṁ padāpi puruṣaṁ spṛśe || 3.45.38 ||
I will drink sharp poison; I will enter fire. But I will not touch any man other than Rāghava—even with my foot.
Since you, O son of Sumitra, are not reaching out to your brother in this situation, you are an enemy to your brother in the guise of a friend৷৷
The verse foregrounds satya and śīla as Sītā’s self-definition: unwavering fidelity to Rāma, valuing moral purity over survival.
Sītā intensifies her protest, declaring she would rather die than be associated with any man other than Rāma.
Chastity and steadfast loyalty (ananya-bhāva toward one’s rightful spouse).