Shloka 5.24.21
सीताभर्त्सना — The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
सीते पर्याप्तमेतावद्भर्तुः स्नेहो निदर्शितः।।5.24.21।।सर्वात्रातिकृतं भद्रे व्यसनायोपकल्पते
sīte paryāptam etāvad bhartuḥ sneho nidarśitaḥ ॥5.24.21॥
sarvatrātikṛtaṃ bhadre vyasanāyopakalpate ।
“Sītā, you have shown enough love for your husband up to this point. Auspicious lady, excess in anything, anywhere, becomes the cause of calamity.”
'O Sita! you have shown your love for your husband to this extent. It is enough. O auspicious lady! anything carried to excess leads to adversity.
The speaker tries to reframe fidelity as ‘excess’; the dharmic lesson is that true loyalty to righteousness is not excess—only attachment to adharma leads to calamity.
Vinatā attempts psychological persuasion, urging Sītā to stop clinging to her husband and to yield, presenting it as ‘practical wisdom.’
Sītā’s steadfast devotion (pativratā-dharma) and commitment to truth, resisting manipulative counsel.