Shloka 3.54.14

सीताहरणोत्तरं लङ्काप्रवेशः — Sita’s Abduction and Ravana’s Entry into Lanka

Devanagari script

अब्रवीच्च दशग्रीवः पिशाचीर्घोरदर्शनाः।।।।यथा नेमां पुमान् स्त्री वा सीतां पश्यत्यसम्मतः।

Transliteration

abravīc ca daśagrīvaḥ piśācīr ghora-darśanāḥ |

yathā na imāṃ pumān strī vā sītāṃ paśyaty asammataḥ ||

Translation

Then Daśagrīva commanded the frightful-looking pishācī: “Let no man or woman see this Sītā without my permission.”

Context

Ravana ordered the female goblins of fearful appearance,'Let no outsider whether man or woman, see her, without my permission'.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva)
• Sītā
• Piśācīs (female goblins)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Possessiveness and coercive control violate dharma; restricting another’s autonomy is presented as a symptom of adharma rather than legitimate authority.

What is the narrative situation?

After confining Sītā, Rāvaṇa sets strict surveillance rules for the demoness guards.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is respect for consent and personal dignity—shown here by its absence, sharpening the epic’s ethical contrast.