Shloka 5.19.23
सीताव्यथा-वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement
समीक्षमाणां रुदतीमनिन्दितां सुपक्ष्मताम्रायतशुक्ललोचनाम्।अनुव्रतां राममतीव मैथिलीं प्रलोभयामास वधाय रावणः।।।।
malamaṇḍanacitrāṅgīṃ maṇḍanārhām amaṇḍitām |
mṛṇālī paṅkadigdhā iva vibhāti na vibhāti ca ||
Her limbs were mottled, as though dust alone adorned them; though worthy of ornaments, she wore none—like a lotus-stalk smeared with mud, shining and yet not shining.
Blameless Mythili with clear, large eyes and beautiful eyelashes with a reddish tint at the corners was looking around, crying. Ravana tried to allure Sita who was deeply faithful to Rama and threatened to kill her (when he found her unflinching).ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ēkōnaviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends the nineteenth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
Dharma is not dependent on external splendor; inner worth can remain luminous even when outer circumstances are degraded.
The poet underscores Sītā’s contrast: inherently radiant, yet outwardly neglected in captivity.
Antaḥ-śauca (inner purity) and self-possession, unaffected by loss of worldly ornamentation.