Shloka 19
सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः
Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove
तथाऽहं धर्मनित्यस्य धर्मपत्नी पतिव्रता।त्वया स्पृष्टुं न शक्यास्मि राक्षसाधम पापिना।।।।
tathāhaṃ dharmanityasya dharmapatnī pativratā | tvayā spṛṣṭuṃ na śakyāsmi rākṣasādhama pāpinā ||
Demikian pula aku—dharma-patnī dari Rāma yang teguh dalam dharma, seorang pativratā. Wahai rākṣasa terhina, orang berdosa sepertimu tak dapat menyentuhku (dengan cara yang sah).
O lowly demon ! similarly I am a chaste woman and wife of the ever righteous Rama who cannot be defiled by a sinner like you.
FAQs
Marital fidelity and moral integrity (pativratā-dharma) are upheld as a form of dharma that cannot be overridden by coercion.
Sītā rejects Rāvaṇa’s advances and frames her inviolability through her bond to Rāma’s dharma.
Sītā’s chastity, resolve, and truthfulness (satya) in self-definition.