Shloka 5.19.11
सीताव्यथा-वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement
अभूतेनापवादेन कीर्तिं निपतितामिव।आम्नायानामयोगेन विद्यां प्रशिथिलामिव।।।।
tato dṛṣṭvaiva vaidehī rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam |
prāvepata varārohā pravāte kadalī yathā ||
Seeing Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, Vaidehī—slender-waisted—trembled at once, like a banana plant shaken by a strong wind.
She resembled reputation besmirched by scandals, like Vedic studies slackened by lack of aplication. (Knowledge is verified with a suitable statment of the Veda which is the ultimate test of ones finding. This method is adopted in all Astika sastras which accept the authority of the Veda).
The verse highlights the moral violence of adharma: the presence of the abductor (Rāvaṇa) produces fear in the innocent. Dharma protects the vulnerable; adharma rules through intimidation.
In Laṅkā, Sītā sees Rāvaṇa (approaching or present) and immediately trembles—showing her distress and the threatening atmosphere of captivity.
Sītā’s inner purity and fidelity are implied: though shaken by fear, she remains morally unyielding, underscoring steadfastness to satya and marital dharma.