Valmiki Ramayana 5.21.7 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 7
सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः
Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana
यथा तव तथान्येषां दारा रक्ष्या निशाचर।।।।आत्मानमुपमां कृत्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रम्यताम्।
yathā tava tathā anyeṣāṃ dārā rakṣyā niśācara |
ātmānam upamāṃ kṛtvā sveṣu dāreṣu ramyatām ||
ಓ ನಿಶಾಚರನೇ! ನಿನ್ನ ಸ್ವಂತ ಪತ್ನಿಯರು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲ್ಪಡಬೇಕಾದವರಾಗಿರುವಂತೆ, ಇತರರ ಪತ್ನಿಯರೂ ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲ್ಪಡಬೇಕಾದವರೇ. ನಿನ್ನನ್ನೇ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು, ನಿನ್ನ ದಾರೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಸಂತೋಷದಿಂದ ರಮಿಸು.
"I was born of high lineage and joined a meritorious family by virtue of my marriage. I am devoted only to my husband. I should not commit this contemptible, forbidden act."
FAQs
The ethic of reciprocity: what one expects for one’s own household must be extended to others—protect others’ marriages as you protect your own.
Sītā instructs Rāvaṇa to restrain himself and to respect social order by honoring others’ marital bonds.
Moral reasoning and compassion—Sītā argues from fairness and social duty.
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