Shloka 17
राक्षसी-भर्त्सना
The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā
तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः।किमद्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्यात्वं नेच्छसेऽधमे।।।।
tasya sarvasamṛddhasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | kim adya rākṣasendrasya bhāryātvaṃ necchase 'dhame ||
‘സകല സമൃദ്ധിയാലും സമ്പന്നനായ, സ്വയം “മഹാത്മാവ്” എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്ന രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രൻ രാവണൻ—രാക്ഷസന്മാരുടെ അധിപൻ—അവന്റെ ഭാര്യസ്ഥാനം നീ ഇന്നെന്തുകൊണ്ട് ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നില്ല, ഹേ അധമേ?’
'O lady of beautiful brows! why don't you make up your mind to accept the king of kings, afraid of whom the trees rain flowers, the mountains and clouds release water at his will? Ravana is the king of the south-west, direction Why don't you wish to be his wife?
FAQs
It exposes adharma in two ways: insulting speech and the attempt to break a lawful marriage. Dharma honors truthful relationships and respectful speech; coercion and abuse are unethical.
A demoness pressures Sītā to accept Rāvaṇa as husband, using both praise of wealth and direct insult.
Sītā’s integrity (satya-niṣṭhā): she will not abandon her rightful bond with Rāma despite humiliation.