Shloka 5.21.12

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः (Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana)

Devanagari script

तथेयं त्वां समासाद्य लङ्का रत्नौघसङ्कुला।।।।अपराधात्तवैकस्य नचिराद्विनशिष्यति।

Transliteration

tathaivaṃ tvāṃ samāsādya laṅkā ratnaughasaṅkulā |

aparādhāt tavaikasya na cirād vinaśiṣyati ||5.21.12||

Translation

So too shall this Laṅkā, thronged with heaps of jewels—having obtained you—soon be destroyed, for the offense is yours alone.

Context

"Having got you as its ruler, this Lanka filled with gems (riches) will perish withoutdelay for the crime of one individual.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Adharma at the top harms the whole community: one ruler’s wrongdoing can bring down an entire prosperous kingdom.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā directly warns Rāvaṇa that his personal अपराध (offense) will doom jewel-rich Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s truth-speaking (satya) and concern for the wider consequences beyond her personal suffering.