Shloka 5.24.40
सीताभर्त्सना — The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
इमां हरिणलोलाक्षीं त्रासोत्कम्पिपयोधराम्।रावणेन हृतां दृष्टवा दौहृदो मे महानभूत्।।5.24.40।।
mānuṣī mānuṣaṃ taṃ tu rāmam icchasi śobhane | rājyād bhraṣṭam asiddhārthaṃ viklabaṃ tvam anindite ||5.24.5||
O lovely, blameless woman—though you are a woman yourself, you still long for that mere human, Rama: cast out from his kingdom, unsuccessful in his aims, and broken in spirit.
'I have developed a morbid desire to feast upon this woman with eyes flashing like doe's, whose breasts heave with stress and fear after she was abducted by Ravana.
The verse highlights an adharma-driven attempt to break marital fidelity and righteousness by belittling Rāma; Dharma here is implied through Sītā’s steadfast commitment to truth and loyalty despite psychological pressure.
In Aśoka-vana, the guarding rākṣasīs try to persuade and intimidate Sītā, attacking her devotion to Rāma by portraying him as powerless and disgraced.
Sītā’s śīla (moral integrity) and satya-niṣṭhā (steadfastness to truth) are emphasized indirectly, as the speech is designed to shake her resolve but sets the stage for her unwavering Dharma.