Shloka 183
Dyumatsena’s Restoration and Sāvitrī’s Disclosure of Yama’s Boons (आरण्यकपर्व, अध्याय २८२)
उवाच वाक्य त॑ क्षुद्रे वैदेही पतिदेवता । रावणके ऐसा कहनेपर परम सुन्दर जाँघोंसे सुशोभित, पतिको ही देवता माननेवाली विदेहराजकुमारी सुमुखी सीता अपना मुँह फेरकर बीचमें तिनकेकी ओट करके राक्षसोंके लिये अमंगलसूचक आँसुओंद्वारा अपने पीन एवं उन्नत स्तनोंको निरन्तर भिगोती हुई उस नीच निशाचरसे इस प्रकार बोलीं--
rāvaṇake evaṃ kahane para parama-sundara-jāṅghābhiḥ suśobhitā patiṃ eva devatāṃ manyamānā videha-rāja-kumārī sumukhī sītā mukhaṃ parāvṛtya madhye tṛṇakasya oṭaṃ kṛtvā rākṣasānāṃ amāṅgalya-sūcakair aśrubhiḥ svān pīnāṃś ca unnata-stanān nirantaraṃ bhījayantī taṃ nīcaṃ niśācaraṃ prati evaṃ uvāca—
When Rāvaṇa spoke in that manner, the princess of Videha—Sītā, fair-faced and famed for her beautiful thighs, who regarded her husband alone as her deity—turned her face away. Placing a blade of grass as a screen between them, she let fall tears that were an omen of misfortune for the rākṣasas, soaking her full, uplifted breasts without cease. Then, addressing that base night-roamer, she spoke as follows.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights steadfast dharma in the face of coercion: Sītā’s unwavering fidelity (pativratā-bhāva) and moral refusal to engage with adharma. The blade of grass functions as a symbolic boundary—she denies Rāvaṇa moral and social access, asserting inner autonomy and ethical clarity even under threat.
After Rāvaṇa speaks to her (attempting persuasion or intimidation), Sītā turns away, places a blade of grass between them as a sign of rejection, and weeps—tears described as ominous for the rākṣasas. She then begins to address Rāvaṇa, setting up her verbal rebuke and declaration of loyalty to her husband.