Shloka 25
सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः
Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove
शृणु मैथिलि मद्वाक्यं मासान्द्वादश भामिनि।।3.56.24।।कालेनानेन नाभ्येषि यदि मां चारुहासिनि।ततस्त्वां प्रातराशार्थं सूदाश्छेत्स्यन्ति लेशशः।।3.56.25।।
śṛṇu maithili madvākyaṃ māsān dvādaśa bhāmini |
kālenānena nābhyēṣi yadi māṃ cāruhāsini |
tatas tvāṃ prātarāśārthaṃ sūdāś chetsyanti leśaśaḥ ||
Wahai Maithilī, dengarkanlah kata-kataku, wahai yang jelita. Dua belas bulan menjadi tempohnya. Jika dalam masa itu, wahai yang senyumannya indah, engkau tidak datang kepadaku, maka para tukang masak akan mencincangmu menjadi cebisan-cebisan untuk santapan pagiku.
O comely princess from Mithila, O lady with a sweet smile listen to my words. If you do not accept my hand in the course of twelve months, the cooks will cut you off into small bits for the (my) breakfast.
FAQs
The repetition intensifies the portrayal of adharma: obsession and intimidation are shown as moral degradation, reinforcing that dharma cannot be produced by threats.
A duplicated line in this recension reiterates Rāvaṇa’s coercive ultimatum to Sītā.
Sītā’s unshaken fidelity is emphasized by the need for repeated intimidation to pressure her.