Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 29
सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः
Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana
जनस्थाने हतस्थाने निहते रक्षसां बले।।।।अशक्तेन त्वया रक्षः कृतमेतदसाधु वै।
janasthāne hata-sthāne nihate rakṣasāṃ bale | aśaktena tvayā rakṣaḥ kṛtam etad asādhu vai ||
Di Jana-sthāna, tempat yang menjadi medan maut, ketika bala rākṣasa telah dibinasakan, engkau—yang tidak berdaya melindungi mereka—telah melakukan perbuatan ini; sungguh tidak patut dan memalukan, wahai rākṣasa.
"When the army of demons as killed you had no capacity to protect and was destroyed at Janasthana, the place of death. You acted in this dishonest way.
FAQs
Adharma is marked not only by harm but by dishonorable means—exploiting vulnerability rather than facing righteous challenge.
Sītā condemns Rāvaṇa’s conduct as cowardly and unrighteous in light of earlier defeats and his failure to act honorably.
Moral clarity: Sītā distinguishes true strength from predatory opportunism.