Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 11
अतिकायवधश्रवणं रावणस्य लङ्कारक्षाविधानम्
Ravana’s Reaction to Atikaya’s Death and the Fortification Orders for Lanka
अप्रमत्सैश्चसर्वत्रगुप्सैरक्ष्यापुरीवतियम् ।।।।अशोकवनिकायांचयत्रसीताऽभिरक्ष्यते ।
apramattaiś ca sarvatra gupsai rakṣyā purīvatīyam | aśokavanikāyāṁ ca yatra sītā 'bhirakṣyate ||
Que esta ciudad sea custodiada por doquier por centinelas vigilantes y ocultos; y, en especial, el jardín de Aśoka, donde Sītā es mantenida bajo guardia.
"This city and even the Ashoka grove where Sita is kept secretly to be guarded by being vigilant on all sides."
FAQs
By contrast, it highlights adharma: the misuse of power to confine the innocent; vigilance here serves injustice, not righteousness.
Rāvaṇa orders heightened security throughout Laṅkā, with special attention to the grove where Sītā is held.
Not virtue but strategic caution—Rāvaṇa’s fear-driven governance and reliance on surveillance.