Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 19
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः
Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply
तस्य धर्मात्मनः पत्नीं स्नुषां दशरथस्य च।कथं व्याहरतो मां ते न जिह्वा व्यवशीर्यते।।।।
tasya dharmātmanaḥ patnīṃ snuṣāṃ daśarathasya ca |kathaṃ vyāharato māṃ te na jihvā vyavaśīryate ||
Aku isteri kepada insan yang berpegang pada dharma, dan menantu Daśaratha; bagaimana lidahmu tidak terbelah dan gugur ketika engkau berkata demikian kepadaku?
"Why does not your tongue drop down while you speak such words against this consort of the righteous king (Rama) and daughter-in law of Dasaratha?
FAQs
Dharma includes purity of speech: insulting or coercing a virtuous, married woman—especially one tied to a righteous royal lineage—is portrayed as speech-sin deserving immediate moral consequence.
Sītā intensifies her rebuke, invoking her dharmic status as Rāma’s wife and Daśaratha’s daughter-in-law to condemn Rāvaṇa’s words.
Satya with dignity—Sītā speaks uncompromising truth and asserts rightful honor grounded in dharma and lineage.