Shloka 3.63.8
सीतावियोगे रामविलापः — Rama’s Lament in Separation from Sita
तौ लोहितस्य प्रियदर्शनस्य सदोचितावुत्तमचन्दनस्य।वृत्तौ स्तनौ शोणितपङ्कदिग्धौ नूनं प्रियाया मम नाभिभातः।।।।
tacchlakṣṇasuvyaktamṛdupralāpaṃ tasyā mukhaṃ kuñcitakeśabhāram |
rakṣovaśaṃ nūnam upāgatāyā na bhrājate rāhumukhe yathenduḥ ||
Her face—framed by a mass of curling hair, and known for its gentle, clear speech—surely does not shine now that she has fallen under the power of rākṣasas, like the moon when caught in Rahu’s mouth.
Her captivating copper -coloured skin, smeared with the best of red sandal paste would not be surely pleasing now, drenched in blood and mud.
The verse contrasts inherent virtue with oppressive force: goodness may be obscured (like the eclipsed moon) but not destroyed. Dharma is the conviction that righteousness remains real even when temporarily covered by adharma.
Rama imagines Sita’s radiance diminished under demonic captivity, using the eclipse image of Rahu and the moon.
Rama’s unwavering valuation of Sita’s purity and gentleness, and his moral certainty that her worth is unchanged despite captivity.