Shloka 5.20.18
रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम् (Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita)
विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां नानानगरमालिनीम्।।5.20.18।।जनकाय प्रदास्यामि तव हेतोर्विलासिनि।
vijitya pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ nānā-nagara-mālinīm || 5.20.18 ||
janakāya pradāsyāmi tava hetor vilāsini |
O graceful lady, having conquered the whole earth, adorned like a garland with many cities, I shall bestow it upon Janaka for your sake.
"O lovely lady! I will win all the cities and lands and give them to Janaka for your sake.
Dharma rejects bribery and unjust conquest as means to win legitimacy. The offer to ‘gift’ conquered land underscores adharma: violence and coercion cannot become righteous through donation.
Rāvaṇa promises to conquer the world and present it to Sītā’s father Janaka, framing aggression as a romantic and diplomatic offering.
Sītā’s loyalty and moral clarity—she cannot be ‘won’ by promises of power or political advantage.