Shloka 5.23.10
राक्षसी-भर्त्सना (The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā)
येन देवास्त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवराजश्च निर्जिताः।।।।तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हसि।
yena devās trayastriṃśad devarājaś ca nirjitāḥ | tasya tvaṃ rākṣasendrasya bhāryā bhavitum arhasi ||
You should become the wife of that lord of rākṣasas by whom the thirty-three gods—and even Indra, their king—have been conquered.
'You ought to be the wife of the lord of ogres who has vanquished thirty three crores of gods including Indra, their king.'
It critiques the fallacy that power equals righteousness: conquest is used as ‘proof’ of worthiness. The Ramayana’s dharma framework measures legitimacy by conduct and truth (satya), not by domination.
After Rāvaṇa leaves, the rākṣasīs attempt to persuade and intimidate Sītā by praising Rāvaṇa’s might and victories.
Sītā’s discernment (viveka) and loyalty: she does not accept ‘might’ as moral authority and remains committed to her rightful husband.