Shloka 5.22.33
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः (Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply)
एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा।गोकर्णीं हस्तिकर्णीं च लम्बकर्णीमकर्णिकाम्।।।।हस्तिपाद्यश्वपाद्यौ च गोपादीं पादचूलिकाम्।एकाक्षीमेकपादीं च पृथुपादीमपादिकाम्।।।।अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवामतिमात्रकुचोदरीम्।अतिमात्रास्यनेत्रां च दीर्घजिह्वामजिह्विकाम्।।।।अनासिकां सिंहमुखीं गोमुखीं सूकरीमुखीम्।
ekākṣīm eka-karṇāṃ ca karṇa-prāvaraṇāṃ tathā |
go-karṇīṃ hasti-karṇīṃ ca lamba-karṇīm akarṇikām ||
hasti-pādyaśva-pādyau ca go-pādīṃ pāda-cūlikām |
ekākṣīm eka-pādīṃ ca pṛthu-pādīm apādikām ||
ati-mātra-śiro-grīvām ati-mātra-kuca-odarīm |
ati-mātrāsya-netrāṃ ca dīrgha-jihvām ajihvikām ||
anāsikāṃ siṃha-mukhīṃ go-mukhīṃ sūkarī-mukhīm ||
There were demonesses of grotesque forms: one-eyed, one-eared, with ears covered; some with cow-ears, some with elephant-ears, some with long hanging ears, and some earless; some with elephant-feet, horse-hooves, or cow-hooves, some with hair on their feet; some one-footed, broad-footed, or even footless; some with enormous head and neck, huge breasts and belly, oversized face and eyes; some long-tongued, some tongueless; some noseless—some lion-faced, cow-faced, or boar-faced.
Of them one had one eye, the other one ear, another with ears covered, one had the ear of a cow, another had ears of an elephant and yet another, long, hanging ears. One had the feet of an elephant, another, hoofs of a horse and still another of a cow. While one had a single foot, another had broad feet and yet another no feet at all. One had a long neck and a large head. One had large breasts and belly. One had a big face and eyes, another had a long tongue and yet another no tongue at all. One had no nose and still another had a lion face and yet another the face of a cow.
The verse supports a dharmic contrast: adharma often surrounds itself with terror and intimidation. Dharma stands firm even when confronted by fear-inducing forces.
The narration describes the dreadful-looking rākṣasīs stationed around Sītā in Aśoka-vana, reinforcing the atmosphere of threat and confinement.
Courage and steadfastness (dhairya) are implied in Sītā’s endurance amid frightening guardians.