Shloka 5.21.11
सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः (Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana)
अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्।।।।समृद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च।
akṛtātmānam āsādya rājānam anaye rataṃ |
samṛddhāni vinaśyanti rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca ||5.21.11||
When a king lacking self-mastery, devoted to unjust ways, comes to power—prosperous realms and even cities fall into ruin.
"Even prosperous countries and cities are destroyed on account of indiscreet rulers engaged in unfair means.
Rājadharma: a ruler’s self-control and justice are foundational; when leadership is unrighteous, society’s prosperity collapses.
Sītā generalizes from Rāvaṇa’s conduct to a principle of governance: immoral kings destroy their own states.
Sītā’s wisdom and commitment to dharma-based governance, even while she is a captive.