Shloka 16
सीता-रावण-संवादः
Sītā–Rāvaṇa Dialogue in the Aśoka Grove
अप्यहं कृतकाम: स्यामिमां प्राप्य वरस्त्रियम् । गच्छ जानीहि को न्वस्या नाथ इत्येव कोटिक,“यदि मैं इस सुन्दरीको पा जाऊँ तो कृतार्थ हो जाऊँगा। कोटिक! जाओ और पता लगाओ कि इसका पति कौन है?' जयद्रथका यह वचन सुनकर कुण्डलमण्डित कोटिकास्य रथसे उतर पड़ा और जैसे गीदड़ बाघकी स्त्रीसे बात करे, उसी प्रकार उसने द्रौपदीके पास जाकर पूछा
apy ahaṃ kṛtakāmaḥ syām imāṃ prāpya varastriyam | gaccha jānīhi ko nv asyā nātha ity eva koṭika ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “If only I could obtain this excellent woman, I would consider my desire fulfilled. Go, Koṭika—find out who her protector (husband/lord) is.” In context, this utterance reveals Jayadratha’s lustful intent and his disregard for dharma: he treats a married woman as an object to be acquired, and orders his attendant to investigate her marital protection so he may proceed without fear of consequence.
वैशम्पायन उवाच