Shloka 5.19.8
सीताव्यथा-वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement
शुष्यन्तीं रुदतीमेकां ध्यानशोकपरायणाम्।दुःखस्यान्तमपश्यन्तीं रामां राममनुव्रताम्।।।।
samīkṣamāṇāṃ rudatīm aninditāṃ supakṣmatāmrāyataśuklalocanām |
anuvratāṃ rāmam atīva maithilīṃ pralobhayāmāsa vadhāya rāvaṇaḥ ||
As blameless Maithilī looked about and wept—her broad, bright eyes framed by lovely lashes and slightly reddened at the corners—Rāvaṇa sought to entice her; and when she remained utterly devoted to Rāma, he turned to threats of killing.
She was emaciated, absorbed in thought of Rama alone and crying and unable to find the end to her grief.
Dharma resists coercion and temptation: Sītā’s satya (truthfulness to her marriage and values) does not yield, even under threat of death.
Rāvaṇa attempts persuasion and seduction; failing that, he turns to intimidation and threats against Sītā’s life.
Ananyatā and satya-niṣṭhā—exclusive devotion and truth-based steadfastness in the face of fear.