Shloka 3.49.9
सीताहरणम् — Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita
स परिव्राजकच्छद्म महाकायो विहाय तत्।।3.49.8।।प्रतिपद्य स्वकं रूपं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः।संरक्तनयनः क्रोधाज्जीमूतनिचयप्रभः।।3.49.9।।रक्ताम्बरधरस्तस्थौ स्त्रीरत्नं प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम्।
saṅraktanayanaḥ krodhāj jīmūtanicayaprabhaḥ || 3.49.9 ||
raktāmbaradharas tasthau strīratnaṁ prekṣya maithilīm |
His eyes reddened with anger and his radiance like piled storm-clouds, he stood clad in red garments, gazing upon Maithilī—Sītā, the jewel among women.
Ravana, chief of the demons, shed the mendicant's form and assumed his real self. Clad in red garments, his eyes turned red in anger. Looking like layers of clouds, he stood in front of Sita, a gem among women.
The verse frames Sītā as worthy of reverence and protection; to confront her with anger and predatory intent is a breach of dharma.
Rāvaṇa, now undisguised, stands before Sītā and fixes his gaze upon her, setting the stage for coercion and abduction.
Sītā’s dignity and moral worth are emphasized (strīratna); her presence functions as a standard against which adharma is exposed.