Shloka 26
सीताभर्त्सना
The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
अग्नेः स्वाहा यथा देवी शची वेन्द्रस्य शोभने।।5.24.26।।
किं ते रामेण वैदेहि कृपणेन गतायुषा।
agneḥ svāhā yathā devī śacī vendrasya śobhane || 5.24.26 ||
kiṃ te rāmeṇa vaidehi kṛpaṇena gatāyuṣā |
अग्नेः स्वाहा यथा देवी, शची वेन्द्रस्य शोभने; तथा त्वं रावणस्य स्याः। किं ते रामेण वैदेहि, कृपणेन गतायुषा॥
'O beautiful Sita! Just like Swaha, queen to the Fire-god and Sachi to Indra, acceptRavana. Why are you still thinking of Rama who is helpless and whose life span is coming to an end soon.
FAQs
It demonstrates unethical persuasion by invoking sacred exemplars (divine couples) to normalize an immoral demand; dharma requires truthfulness and right intention, not religious rhetoric used to justify coercion.
The speaker uses mythic analogies and denigrates Rāma to make Sītā doubt her hope and allegiance.
Hope joined to truth (satya-niṣṭhā): Sītā’s faith in Rāma and in dharma persists despite attempts to declare him ‘finished’.