Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 15
सेनानिवेशः रामविलापश्च
Encampment on the Northern Shore; Rama’s Lament and Sandhyā
सानूनमसितापाङ्गीरक्षोमध्यगतासती ।मन्नाथानाथहीनेवत्रातारंनाधिगच्छति ।।।।
sā nūnam asitāpāṅgī rakṣomadhyagatā satī | mannāthā nāthahīnevā trātāraṃ nādhigacchati ||6.5.15||
Assurément, celle aux yeux sombres, épouse fidèle, se trouve au milieu des rākṣasas ; et bien que je sois son seigneur, comme si elle était sans époux, elle ne trouve point de protecteur.
That dark-eyed lady (Sita), even though she has me (husband), is in the midst of rakshasas. Surely she is sad and emaciated being away from her husband, without a protector.
FAQs
Dharma as protection and responsibility: the verse frames Sītā’s danger as a moral failure that must be corrected—one must not allow the innocent to remain without refuge.
Rāma reflects on Sītā’s captivity among rākṣasas and feels the urgency of rescuing her, since she lacks effective protection there.
Protective duty (rakṣaṇa-dharma): Rāma’s sense of obligation to safeguard his spouse and restore her security.