Shloka 3.56.11

सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः (Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove)

Devanagari script

यश्चन्द्रं नभसो भूमौ पातयेन्नाशयेत वा।सागरं शोषयेद्वापि स सीतां मोचयेदिह।।।।

Transliteration

yaś candraṃ nabhaso bhūmau pātayen nāśayeta vā |

sāgaraṃ śoṣayed vāpi sa sītāṃ mocayed iha ||

Translation

Only one who could make the Moon fall from the sky to the earth—or destroy it—or even drain the ocean dry, could release Sītā from here.

Context

He who can bring down the Moon to the earth from the sky or even dash it down, he who can drain the sea dry will definitely release me from here.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Candra (Moon)
• Sāgara (Ocean)

FAQs

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

Dharma as unwavering fidelity: Sītā frames her release (in the sense of yielding her will) as morally impossible—truth is not negotiable.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā rebuffs Rāvaṇa’s attempt to win or coerce her, asserting that freeing/claiming her is beyond possibility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness (dhṛti) and satya: she uses cosmic impossibilities to express absolute resolve.