Shloka 5.24.16
सीताभर्त्सना — The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
ऊचुश्च परमक्रुद्धाः प्रगृह्याशु परश्वधान्।।5.24.16।।नेयमर्हति भर्तारं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्।
ūcuś ca paramakruddhāḥ pragṛhya āśu paraśvadhān ॥5.24.16॥
na iyam arhati bhartāraṃ rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam ।
Seething with rage, they swiftly seized their axes and cried, “This woman is not worthy to have Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, as her husband!”
The enraged ogresses immediately picked up the axes and rose up saying, 'she is unfit to have the demon king, Ravana as her husband'.
It contrasts dharma with the abuse of authority: forcing consent through fear violates righteousness and truth.
The guards escalate from verbal abuse to brandishing weapons, asserting that Sītā should accept Rāvaṇa.
Sītā’s moral integrity is the silent counterpoint—her refusal makes the oppressors resort to violence.