महापार्श्वस्य परामर्शः
Mahāpārśva’s Counsel and Rāvaṇa’s Confession of Brahmā’s Curse
इत्यहंतस्यशापस्यभीतःप्रसभमेवताम् ।नारोहयेबलात्सीतांवैदेहींशयनेशुभे ।।।।
ity ahaṃ tasya śāpasya bhītaḥ prasabham eva tām |
nārohaye balāt sītāṃ vaidehīṃ śayane śubhe ||
അങ്ങനെ ആ ശാപത്തെ ഭയന്ന് വിറച്ച ഞാൻ, ശുഭമായ ശയ്യയിൽ വൈദേഹി സീതയെ ബലമായി കയറ്റിയിട്ടില്ല.
"My speed is like that of the ocean, my movement is like that of the wind and Dasaratha's son does not know this. Therefore, he is coming to attack me."
A restraint born of fear is not true dharma: the verse shows that external punishment can curb wrongdoing, but inner righteousness requires moral transformation.
Rāvaṇa explains that he refrained from physically forcing Sītā due to Brahmā’s curse, not due to respect for dharma.
Sītā’s inviolability is implicitly emphasized; on Rāvaṇa’s side, only constrained restraint (not genuine virtue) is shown.