Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 14
रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्
Ravana’s Persuasion and Coercive Courtship of Sita
त्वां समासाद्य वैदेहि रूपयौवनशालिनीम्।कः पुमानतिवर्तेत साक्षादपि पितामहः।।5.20.14।।
tvāṃ samāsādya vaidehi rūpayauvanaśālinīm |
kaḥ pumān ativarteta sākṣād api pitāmahaḥ || 5.20.14 ||
Ó Vaidehī, adornada de beleza e juventude, que homem manteria o domínio de si ao alcançar-te, ainda que fosse o próprio Pitāmaha (Brahmā)?
"O Vaidehi! you have (extraordinary) beauty and (exuberant) youth. Who would not lose his balance of mind even if he were Brahma the grandsire himself after getting you?
FAQs
Dharma upholds self-control (dama) and respect for others’ bonds; the verse normalizes loss of restraint as inevitable, which the Ramayana treats as a moral failure leading to ruin.
Rāvaṇa argues that desire for Sītā is irresistible, attempting to excuse his own lack of restraint.
The implied virtue is self-mastery—contrasted with Rāvaṇa’s indulgence; Sītā’s steadfast restraint remains the moral counterpoint.