Shloka 16
रावणभवनपरिक्रमणं हनूमतः शोकविचारश्च
Hanuman’s Circuit of Ravana’s Palace and the Crisis of Deliberation
जनकस्य सुता सीता रामपत्नी सुमध्यमा।।।।कथमुत्पलपत्राक्षी रावणस्य वशं व्रजेत्।
janakasya sutā sītā rāmapatnī sumadhyamā | katham utpala-patrākṣī rāvaṇasya vaśaṃ vrajet ||
Comment Sītā — fille de Janaka, épouse de Rāma, à la taille fine, aux yeux pareils aux pétales du lotus — pourrait-elle tomber sous la coupe de Rāvaṇa ?
"Whether Janaki is lost or irretrievable or dead is not known The news should not be reported to Rama, who is very fond of his wife.
FAQs
Dharma affirms inner sovereignty: virtue and fidelity (pativratā-bhāva) are not easily conquered by external force, and Hanumān upholds Sītā’s moral agency against the claim of tyrannical power.
Hanumān questions whether Sītā could truly be subdued in spirit, even if physically held.
Moral steadfastness—Sītā’s integrity and unwavering devotion to Rāma are implied.