Shloka 5.22.2
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः (Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply)
यथा यथा सान्त्वयिता वश्यः स्त्रीणां तथा तथा।यथा यथा प्रियं वक्ता परिभूतस्तथा तथा।।।।
yathā yathā sāntvayitā vaśyaḥ strīṇāṁ tathā tathā | yathā yathā priyaṁ vaktā paribhūtas tathā tathā ||
The more a man becomes ingratiating and pliant toward women—speaking sweetly and trying to please—the more he is treated with contempt by them.
"The more the lover is courteous and loving and pleasing to women the more he is humiliated by them.
It warns against abandoning self-respect and moral steadiness for mere appeasement; dharma in speech and conduct requires dignity, not manipulative flattery.
In Laṅkā, Sītā responds sharply to Rāvaṇa’s approaches, rejecting coercion and exposing the social contempt that follows servile, pleasure-seeking behavior.
Sītā’s fearlessness and moral clarity—she speaks truthfully and refuses to be swayed by intimidation or persuasion.