Shloka 3.52.20
सीताहरण-विलापः / The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā
बभूव जलदं नीलं भित्त्वा चन्द्र इवोदितः।सुललाटं सुकेशान्तं पद्मगर्भाभमव्रणम्।।3.52.19।।शुक्लैस्सुविमलैर्दन्तै प्रभावद्भिरलङ्कृतम्।तस्यास्तद्विमलं वक्त्रमाकाशे रावणाङ्कगम्।।3.52.20।।रुदितं व्यपमृष्टास्रं चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनम्।सुनासं चारुताम्रोष्ठमाकाशे हाटकप्रभम्।।3.52.21।।
śuklaiḥ suvimalaīr dantaiḥ prabhāvadbhir alaṅkṛtam |
tasyās tad vimalaṃ vaktram ākāśe rāvaṇāṅkagam ||
Her pure face—adorned with clean, white, shining teeth—was seen aloft in the sky, resting upon Rāvaṇa’s lap.
Sita's face looked beautiful with her smooth forehead, shining hair and spotless complexion like the inside of a lotus, with clean, white, shining teeth, a nice nose and lovely red lips. She was continuously weeping and wiping her tears. Her face which was pleasing like the Moon on the lap of Ravana appeared as though the Moon was rising through dark clouds.
The contrast between Sītā’s purity and the violence of her captivity underscores Dharma as inner integrity: virtue may remain unstained even when one is forcibly placed in an unrighteous situation.
Rāvaṇa has seized Sītā and carries her through the sky; the narration focuses on the visual of her face as she is borne away.
Sītā’s śīla (moral purity) and steadfast dignity, remaining ‘vimala’ despite coercion.