Shloka 17
सीताहरणम्
Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita
वामेन सीतां पद्माक्षीं मूर्धजेषु करेण सः।।3.49.17।।ऊर्वोस्तु दक्षिणेनैव परिजग्राह पाणिना।
vāmena sītāṃ padmākṣīṃ mūrdhajeṣu kareṇa saḥ | ūrvos tu dakṣiṇenaiva parijagrāha pāṇinā ||
അവൻ ഇടങ്കൈകൊണ്ട് പദ്മാക്ഷിയായ സീതയുടെ മുടി പിടിച്ചു; വലങ്കൈകൊണ്ട് അവളുടെ ഊരുക്കളുടെ കീഴ്ഭാഗം ദൃഢമായി പിടിച്ചെടുത്തു.
Ravana seized with his left hand the lotus-eyed Sita by the hair and lifted her by the thighs with his right hand.
FAQs
The verse highlights adharma: the violation of a woman’s autonomy and dignity through force, underscoring that power used without restraint is ethically corrupt.
Rāvaṇa physically seizes Sītā in the forest, initiating the abduction by brute force.
By contrast (through negation), dharmic restraint and respect for others are implied as virtues—qualities Rāvaṇa abandons here.