Shloka 17
Dyumatsena’s Restoration and Sāvitrī’s Disclosure of Yama’s Boons (आरण्यकपर्व, अध्याय २८२)
इत्युक्ता तेन वैदेही परिवृत्य शुभानना । तृणमन्तरत: कृत्वा तमुवाच निशाचरम्,उवाच वाक्य त॑ क्षुद्रे वैदेही पतिदेवता । रावणके ऐसा कहनेपर परम सुन्दर जाँघोंसे सुशोभित, पतिको ही देवता माननेवाली विदेहराजकुमारी सुमुखी सीता अपना मुँह फेरकर बीचमें तिनकेकी ओट करके राक्षसोंके लिये अमंगलसूचक आँसुओंद्वारा अपने पीन एवं उन्नत स्तनोंको निरन्तर भिगोती हुई उस नीच निशाचरसे इस प्रकार बोलीं--
ity uktā tena vaidehī parivṛtya śubhānanā | tṛṇam antarataḥ kṛtvā tam uvāca niśācaram ||
Assim interpelada, Vaidehī (Sītā), a princesa de Videha de belo rosto, voltou o rosto para o lado. Colocando entre ambos uma lâmina de relva como sinal de recusa e de distância ritual, falou então àquele demônio que vagueava pela noite.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast dharma under pressure: Sītā preserves moral and personal boundaries even in danger, using a symbolic act (placing a blade of grass between them) to mark refusal and maintain fidelity.
After being addressed by the demon, Sītā turns away and places a blade of grass between them, then begins to speak—signaling rejection, maintaining distance, and preparing to respond from a position of principled resistance.