Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 17
मायाशिरोप्रदर्शनम्
The Display of the Illusory Head of Rāma
अल्पपुण्ये: निवृत्तार्थे: मूढे: पण्डितमानिनि: ।शृणुभर्तृवधंसीते: घोरंवृत्रवधंयथा ।।।।
alpa-puṇye nivṛttārthe mūḍhe paṇḍita-mānini | śṛṇu bhartṛ-vadhaṃ sīte ghoraṃ vṛtra-vadhaṃ yathā ||
అల్పపుణ్యవతీ, లక్ష్యాలనుండి విరక్తురాలీ, మూఢా—పండితమానినీ! ఓ సీతా, నీ భర్త యొక్క ఘోర వధను విను; అది వృత్రవధంలా భయంకరం।
"O woman of less merit! You are one who has given up all worldly actions. Stupid one! You pretend as if you know everything. O Sita! Hear about your husband 's death like that of Vrthasura."
FAQs
The verse demonstrates the unethical use of speech: insult and false intimidation as tools of coercion. Dharma upholds satya (truth) and ahiṃsā in speech; Rāvaṇa violates both by weaponizing words.
Rāvaṇa escalates his attempt to break Sītā’s resolve by claiming he will describe Rāma’s death, comparing it to a famed mythic slaughter (Vṛtra).
Sītā’s inner strength is again implied—endurance and discernment in the face of verbal aggression and intimidation.