Shloka 273
Dyumatsena’s Restoration and Sāvitrī’s Disclosure of Yama’s Boons (आरण्यकपर्व, अध्याय २८२)
न त्वामकामां सुश्रोणीं समेष्ये चारुहासिनीम् । सीताके मुखसे यह अत्यन्त निछ्ठदर वचन सुनकर और उनके द्वारा कोरा उत्तर पाकर भी दुर्बुद्धि रावण पुन: इस प्रकार कहने लगा--'सीते! भले ही कामदेव मेरे शरीरको पीड़ा देता रहे, परंतु मैं तुम-जैसी मनोहर मुसकानवाली सुन्दरी युवतीको राजी किये बिना तुम्हारे साथ समागम नहीं करूँगा
na tvām akāṁāṁ suśroṇīṁ sameṣye cāru-hāsinīm |
Mārkaṇḍeya disse: “Ó mulher de belos quadris, ó dama de doce sorriso, não me unirei a ti contra a tua vontade.” No contexto narrativo, esta fala é citada em meio à perseguição coercitiva de Rāvaṇa a Sītā: ele alega que, ainda que o desejo o atormente, não forçará a união carnal sem antes obter o seu consentimento—uma declaração que tenta mascarar a predação com um verniz de contenção, ressaltando o contraste ético entre o verdadeiro dharma (respeitar a autonomia) e a autojustificação manipuladora.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical principle that union without consent is wrong; in context it also warns that immoral characters may use dharmic-sounding language to rationalize coercion, so actions and intent—not pious phrasing—must be judged.
Within Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration of the Rāmāyaṇa episode, Rāvaṇa continues addressing Sītā; after hearing her firm refusal, he speaks again, claiming he will not force her but will try to win her—an attempt to pressure her while appearing restrained.