Shloka 6.118.2

सीताप्रत्याख्यानम् / Rama’s Post-Victory Address to Sītā (Public Opinion and Royal Duty)

Devanagari script

एषासिनिर्जिताभद्रेशत्रुंजित्वारणाजिरे ।पौरुषाद्यदनुष्ठेयंमयैतदुपपादितम् ।।6.118.2।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇāṅka-parikliṣṭāṃ dṛṣṭāṃ duṣṭena cakṣuṣā |

kathaṃ tvāṃ punar ādad yāṃ kulaṃ vyapadiśan mahat ||6.118.20||

Translation

You were tormented in Rāvaṇa’s embrace and looked upon with wicked eyes; how could I take you back again while claiming a great lineage?

Context

"O Auspicious Sita! You are won by destruction of the enemy in the battlefield. What was worth doing has been done with all my effort."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It shows dharma being argued through the lens of lineage-honor and perceived purity—revealing how royal ethics are entangled with societal notions of reputation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma cites Sītā’s captivity under Rāvaṇa and the gaze of the enemy as grounds for refusing immediate acceptance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guarding the credibility of the royal house (kula-yaśas) as Rāma understands it.