Shloka 28
सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama
The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’
उत्तरं नोत्सहे वक्तुं दैवतं भवती मम।।3.45.28।।वाक्यमप्रतिरूपं तु न चित्रं स्त्रीषु मैथिलि।स्वभावस्त्वेष नारीणामेवं लोकेषु दृश्यते।।3.45.29।।
uttaraṃ notsahe vaktuṃ daivataṃ bhavatī mama ||3.45.28||
ข้าพเจ้าไม่กล้าตอบโต้เลย สำหรับข้าพเจ้า ท่านประหนึ่งเทวะผู้ควรเคารพบูชา
O princess from Mithila, I do not want to use such harsh words. To me you are a deity (worthy of adoration). It is not surprising that women of the world use such undeserving words. It is their nature.
FAQs
Vāk-saṃyama (restraint of speech): even when provoked, one should avoid harsh retorts, especially toward those deserving reverence.
Lakṣmaṇa responds to Sītā’s suspicious and hurtful words by asserting he does not wish to answer harshly.
Self-control and reverence—Lakṣmaṇa frames Sītā as worthy of worship, limiting his own anger.