Shloka 5.23.17
राक्षसी-भर्त्सना (The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā)
तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः।किमद्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्यात्वं नेच्छसेऽधमे।।।।
anyā tu vikaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyam abravīt | asakṛd devatā yuddhe nāga-gandharva-dānavāḥ | nirjitāḥ samare yena sa te pārśvam upāgataḥ ||
Another demoness, named Vikaṭā, spoke: “He by whom the gods have again and again been defeated in war, and by whom nāgas, gandharvas, and dānavas have been conquered in battle—he has come to your side.”
'O foolish woman! why don't you seek the wifehood of a glorious king of demons who has abundance of wealth?'
It critiques the fallacy that victory equals righteousness. Dharma is not proven by conquest; true legitimacy rests on justice, restraint, and truth—not mere power.
Vikaṭā tries to intimidate and persuade Sītā by advertising Rāvaṇa’s military dominance over divine and semi-divine beings.
Sītā’s moral clarity: she is expected (by the epic’s ethical frame) to distinguish dharma from brute force and refuse unrighteous proposals.