Shloka 6.116.32
सीतासान्त्वनम् / Hanuman Consoles Sita with the News of Victory
क्लिश्यन्तीम् पतिदेवांत्वामशोकवनिकांगताम् ।।6.116.31।।घोररूपसमाचाराःक्रूराःक्रूरतरेक्षणाः ।इहश्रुतामयादेवि राक्षस्योविकृताननाः ।।6.116.32।।असकृत्परुषैर्वाक्यैर्वद्नत्योरावणाज्ञया ।
ghorarūpasamācārāḥ krūrāḥ krūratarekṣaṇāḥ |
iha śrutā mayā devi rākṣasyo vikṛtānanāḥ ||6.116.32||
asakṛt paruṣair vākyaiḥ vadantyaḥ rāvaṇājñayā ||
O Devi, here I heard those rākṣasī-women—fierce in form and conduct, cruel, with eyes most terrible, and faces distorted—again and again speaking harsh words, acting under Rāvaṇa’s command.
"O Devi! You, who were so devoted to your husband, were tormented in Asoka grove earlier. These cruel Rakshasas of hideous conduct, of fierce and distorted forms with terrible eyes addressing you in harsh words by Ravana's order, were heard by me."
Rama states what he has personally “heard” (śrutā mayā), grounding his words in witnessed testimony; the verse emphasizes truthful speech as a basis for moral judgment and protection of righteousness.
By attributing the cruelty to “Rāvaṇa’s order” (rāvaṇājñayā), the verse highlights adharma as coercive abuse of power, contrasting it with dharma that safeguards dignity and restrains cruelty—especially toward one who is devoted to her husband (patidevā).