Shloka 5.21.34

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

Devanagari script

गिरिं कुबेरस्य गतोऽथ वालयं सभां गतो वा वरुणस्य राज्ञः।असंशयं दाशरथेर्न मोक्ष्यसे महाद्रुमः कालहतोऽशनेरिव।।।।

Transliteration

nāham aupayikī bhāryā parabhāryā satī tava |

sādhu dharmam avekṣasva sādhu sādhu-vrataṃ cara ||

Translation

I cannot be a wife won by your striving; I am another man’s lawful wife, a chaste woman. As a king, look rightly to dharma and follow a truly righteous vow of conduct.

Context

"Even if you fly to Kubera's mountain (Kailasa) or the residence of king Varuna (ocean) you will not escape Rama's arrows like a mighty tree cannot evade lightning.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ēkaviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Dharma

FAQs

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

Respect for marriage and consent: taking another’s spouse is adharma; rulers especially must align desire with righteous law.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā directly denies the legitimacy of Rāvaṇa’s claim and exhorts him to self-correct as a king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and chastity—Sītā states her status plainly and stands firm.