Shloka 3.56.18

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

Devanagari script

न शक्या यज्ञमध्यस्था वेदी सृग्भाण्डमण्डिता।द्विजातिमन्त्रपूता च चण्डालेनावमर्दितुम्।।।।

Transliteration

na śakyā yajñamadhyasthā vedī sṛgbhāṇḍamaṇḍitā | dvijātimantrapūtā ca caṇḍālenāvamarditum ||

Translation

An altar standing in the midst of sacrifice—adorned with ladles and vessels, and sanctified by the mantras of the twice-born—cannot be profaned by a caṇḍāla.

Context

The sacrificial altar adorned with ladles and vessels and sanctified by the sacred mantras recited by brahmins cannot be defiled by a chandala (man of lowest caste).

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• yajña
• vedī (altar)
• dvijāti (twice-born)
• mantra
• caṇḍāla

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as inviolable: what is consecrated by right order and sacred discipline cannot be truly defiled by the unrighteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā uses a ritual analogy to assert that Rāvaṇa cannot spiritually ‘possess’ or purify his act by force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s inner purity and her ability to teach through dharmic imagery and analogy.