Shloka 15
राक्षसी-भर्त्सना
The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā
अन्या तु विकटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।असकृद्देवता युद्धे नागगन्धर्वदानवाः।निर्जिताः समरे येन स ते पार्श्वमुपागतः।।।।
anyā tu vikaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyam abravīt | asakṛd devatā yuddhe nāga-gandharva-dānavāḥ | nirjitāḥ samare yena sa te pārśvam upāgataḥ ||
ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬಳು ‘ವಿಕಟಾ’ ಎಂಬ ರಾಕ್ಷಸಿ ಹೀಗೆಂದಳು: ‘ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪುನಃಪುನಃ ಸೋಲಿಸಿದವನು, ಸಮರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಗರು, ಗಂಧರ್ವರು ಮತ್ತು ದಾನವರನ್ನು ಜಯಿಸಿದವನು—ಅವನೇ ನಿನ್ನ ಪಕ್ಕಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾನೆ.’
'O foolish woman! why don't you seek the wifehood of a glorious king of demons who has abundance of wealth?'
FAQs
It critiques the fallacy that victory equals righteousness. Dharma is not proven by conquest; true legitimacy rests on justice, restraint, and truth—not mere power.
Vikaṭā tries to intimidate and persuade Sītā by advertising Rāvaṇa’s military dominance over divine and semi-divine beings.
Sītā’s moral clarity: she is expected (by the epic’s ethical frame) to distinguish dharma from brute force and refuse unrighteous proposals.