Shloka 5.21.2

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

Devanagari script

दुःखार्ता रुदती सीता वेपमाना तपस्विनी।चिन्तयन्ती वरारोहा पतिमेव पतिव्रता।।।।तृणमन्तरतः कृत्वा प्रत्युवाच शुचिस्मिता।

Transliteration

duḥkhārtā rudatī sītā vepamānā tapasvinī | cintayantī varārohā patim eva pativratā || tṛṇam antarataḥ kṛtvā pratyuvāca śucismitā ||

Translation

Sītā—stricken with grief, sobbing and trembling, austere and fair-hipped, devoted to her husband alone—placed a blade of grass between herself and (Rāvaṇa), and then replied with a pure, gentle smile.

Context

Sita, austere, beautiful and chaste afflicted by grief kept sobbing. Brooding over her husband and trembling in fear, she placed a blade of grass in between her and Ravana and replied with a gentle smile on her face.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Aśoka-vana (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes maintaining moral and physical boundaries; Sītā symbolically asserts separation from adharma by placing grass between herself and Rāvaṇa.

What is the narrative situation?

In captivity in Aśoka-vana, Sītā—terrified yet resolute—prepares to answer Rāvaṇa’s advances and threats.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Chastity and inner discipline (tapas): despite distress, Sītā preserves dignity and resolves to speak truthfully.