Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 10
सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः
Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana
वचो मिथ्याप्रणीतात्मा पथ्यमुक्तं विचक्षणैः।।।।राक्षसानामभावाय त्वं वा न प्रतिपद्यसे।
vaco mithyāpraṇītātmā pathyam uktaṃ vicakṣaṇaiḥ |
rākṣasānām abhāvāya tvaṃ vā na pratipadyase ||5.21.10||
Engkau, yang jiwanya dipimpin oleh jalan dusta dan tidak benar, tidak mahu menerima nasihat yang baik yang diucapkan oleh orang bijaksana; maka engkaulah punca kebinasaan kaum rākṣasa.
"You are indulging in unrighteous act and not listening to the advice of wise men who have a sense of discrimination. You are the cause of the destruction of demons.
FAQs
Dharma requires listening to wise, truthful counsel; rejecting it and choosing falsehood leads not only to personal fall but to collective ruin.
Sītā rebukes Rāvaṇa, warning that his refusal to heed good advice will destroy his people.
Sītā’s moral clarity and fearlessness in speaking truth (satya) to power.