Shloka 3.56.25

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

Devanagari script

शृणु मैथिलि मद्वाक्यं मासान्द्वादश भामिनि।।3.56.24।।कालेनानेन नाभ्येषि यदि मां चारुहासिनि।ततस्त्वां प्रातराशार्थं सूदाश्छेत्स्यन्ति लेशशः।।3.56.25।।

Transliteration

śṛṇu maithili madvākyaṃ māsān dvādaśa bhāmini |

kālenānena nābhyēṣi yadi māṃ cāruhāsini |

tatas tvāṃ prātarāśārthaṃ sūdāś chetsyanti leśaśaḥ ||

Translation

Listen to my words, O Maithili! If within twelve months you do not accept me, O beautiful one, then the cooks shall cut you into pieces for my morning meal.

Context

O comely princess from Mithila, O lady with a sweet smile listen to my words. If you do not accept my hand in the course of twelve months, the cooks will cut you off into small bits for the (my) breakfast.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sītā (Maithilī)
• Mithilā
• sūdāḥ (cooks)

FAQs

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

The repetition intensifies the portrayal of adharma: obsession and intimidation are shown as moral degradation, reinforcing that dharma cannot be produced by threats.

What is the narrative situation?

A duplicated line in this recension reiterates Rāvaṇa’s coercive ultimatum to Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s unshaken fidelity is emphasized by the need for repeated intimidation to pressure her.