हनूमद्वृत्तान्तः—वानरबलप्रशंसा च
Hanuman’s Report and Praise of the Vanara Host
सा मया राक्षसीमध्ये तर्ज्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः।राक्षसीभिर्विरूपाभिर्दृष्टा हि प्रमदावने।।।।एकवेणीधरा दीना भर्तृचिन्तापरायणा।अधश्शय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमागमे।।।।रावणाद्विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्यकृतनिश्चया।
sā mayā rākṣasīmadhye tarjyamānā muhur muhuḥ | rākṣasībhir virūpābhir dṛṣṭā hi pramadāvane || ekaveṇīdharā dīnā bhartṛcintāparāyaṇā | adhaḥśayyā vivarṇāṅgī padminīva himāgame || rāvaṇād vinivṛttārthā martavyakṛtaniścayā |
सा मया राक्षसीमध्ये मुहुर्मुहुः तर्ज्यमाना प्रमदावने दृष्टा। एकवेणीधरा दीना भर्तृचिन्तापरायणा, अधश्शय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमागमे। रावणाद्विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्यकृतनिश्चया॥
"I saw Sita often threatened by uglylooking ogresses. Wearing a single braid, she looked pathetic, thinking always about her husband, lying on the bare ground. She was like a lustreless lotus in winter. Spurning the advances by Ravana, she is rather determined to commit suicide.
Dharma is steadfastness under coercion: Sita’s refusal of Ravana, despite fear and suffering, embodies fidelity to truth and marital righteousness.
Hanuman recounts to Rama what he witnessed in Lanka: Sita’s harsh captivity, threats from rākṣasīs, and her unwavering rejection of Ravana.
Sita’s unwavering chastity and courage—endurance without surrender, even when despair pushes her toward thoughts of death.