Shloka 29
रावणस्य परिव्राजकवेषेण सीतासमीपगमनम्
Ravana Approaches Sita Disguised as a Mendicant
इह शाखामृगास्सिंहा द्वीपिव्याघ्रमृगास्तथा।ऋक्षास्तरक्षवः कङ्काः कथं तेभ्यो न बिभ्यसि।।।।
iha śākhāmṛgāḥ siṃhā dvīpi-vyāghra-mṛgās tathā |
ṛkṣās tarakṣavaḥ kaṅkāḥ kathaṃ tebhyo na bibhyasi ||
ที่นี่มีวานรผู้ไต่กิ่งไม้ มีสิงห์ อีกทั้งเสือดาว เสือโคร่ง และสัตว์ร้ายต่าง ๆ; มีหมี มีไฮยีนา และนกกังกะด้วย—เหตุไฉนเจ้าจึงไม่หวาดกลัวพวกมัน?
And then Ravana wearing fine orange robes, with hair knotted on the head, carrying a parasol, wearing sandals, hanging a kamandalu (water-pot), and a staff on the auspicious left shoulder walked towards Vaidehi like a mendicant.
FAQs
It points to the tension between courage and caution: dharma values fearlessness, but not recklessness—especially in perilous environments.
Rāvaṇa lists the forest’s dangers to frame Sītā’s presence as extraordinary and to draw out her identity.
Sītā’s composure and steadiness are implied, even amid a wilderness portrayed as threatening.