रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च
Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka
जीवेच्चिरं वज्रधरस्य हस्ताच्छचीं प्रधृष्याप्रतिरूपरूपाम्।न मादृशीं राक्षस दूशयित्वा पीतामृतस्यापि तवास्ति मोक्षः।।।।
jīvec ciraṃ vajra-dharasya hastāc chācīṃ pradhṛṣya apratirūpa-rūpām |
na mādṛśīṃ rākṣasa dūṣayitvā pītāmṛtasya api tavāsti mokṣaḥ ||
Ô rākṣasa, on pourrait vivre longtemps même après avoir arraché de force l’incomparable Śacī de la main d’Indra, porteur du foudre ; mais si tu souilles une femme telle que moi, nulle délivrance de la mort ne t’attend, quand bien même tu boirais l’amṛta.
O Princess from Mithila, seeing my angry face even gods led by Indra take to their heels in fear.
The violation of a protected, righteous woman is presented as a grave adharma with unavoidable consequence; even extraordinary means (like amṛta) cannot nullify moral law.
Sītā delivers a final warning: Rāvaṇa’s assault will lead to certain death, concluding the sarga’s exchange.
Integrity and inviolable chastity (pativratā resolve), coupled with fearless proclamation of truth.