Shloka 19
सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः
Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove
तथाऽहं धर्मनित्यस्य धर्मपत्नी पतिव्रता।त्वया स्पृष्टुं न शक्यास्मि राक्षसाधम पापिना।।।।
tathāhaṃ dharmanityasya dharmapatnī pativratā | tvayā spṛṣṭuṃ na śakyāsmi rākṣasādhama pāpinā ||
Demikianlah aku—isteri Dharma bagi Rāma yang sentiasa teguh dalam dharma, seorang pativratā—wahai rākṣasa yang paling hina, pendosa sepertimu tidak berhak menyentuhku.
O lowly demon ! similarly I am a chaste woman and wife of the ever righteous Rama who cannot be defiled by a sinner like you.
FAQs
Marital fidelity and moral integrity (pativratā-dharma) are upheld as a form of dharma that cannot be overridden by coercion.
Sītā rejects Rāvaṇa’s advances and frames her inviolability through her bond to Rāma’s dharma.
Sītā’s chastity, resolve, and truthfulness (satya) in self-definition.