Shloka 5.21.7

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

Devanagari script

यथा तव तथान्येषां दारा रक्ष्या निशाचर।।।।आत्मानमुपमां कृत्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रम्यताम्।

Transliteration

tasya te vigrahe tābhyāṃ yugagrahaṇam asthiram |

vṛtrasya evendra-bāhubhyāṃ bāhor ekasya vigrahe ||

Translation

In battle with those two, you will not be able to stand firm. You will meet the fate of one-armed Vṛtra when he faced Indra with his two mighty arms.

Context

"O night-ranger! Enjoy your wives. Take care of them. Taking your example, others' wives also deserve to be protected.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied as the second)
• Indra
• Vṛtra

FAQs

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

Adharma invites inevitable retribution; power used unrighteously collapses before dharmic force.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā warns Rāvaṇa that he cannot withstand Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa together, using a Vedic-Itihāsa analogy (Indra–Vṛtra).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless truth-speaking—Sītā confronts Rāvaṇa with consequences without intimidation.