Shloka 5.28.9
सीताविलापः (Sita’s Lament and Resolve under Threat)
तरस्विनौ धारयता मृगस्यसत्त्वेन रूपं मनुजेन्द्रपुत्रौ।नूनं विशस्तौ मम कारणात्तौ सिंहर्षभौ द्वाविव वैद्युतेन।।5.28.9।।
tarasvinau dhārayatā mṛgasya sattvena rūpaṃ manujendraputrau | nūnaṃ viśastau mama kāraṇāt tau siṃharṣabhau dvāv iva vaidyutena ||5.28.9||
Those two mighty princes—sons of the lord of men—were confronted by a creature that assumed the form of a deer. Surely, because of me, they have been slain, like two lion-bulls struck down by a bolt of lightning.
"Just like two mighty lions are killed by a bolt of lightning, the two princes must have been killed by a creature in the guise of a deer on my account.
Moral responsibility and empathy: Sītā’s self-blame reflects a conscience that measures consequences and grieves for harm to loved ones, even when she is not truly culpable.
Sītā recalls the deception of the deer-form creature and fears that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa may have died because events were set in motion on her account.
Tender-heartedness and accountability—her concern is for others’ welfare even amid her own peril.