Shloka 9
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम्
The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
रावणस्य तु तद्रूपं कर्माणि च दुरात्मनः।ध्यात्वा भयात्तु वैदेहीं सा नदी न शशंस ताम्।।।।
rāvaṇasya tu tad-rūpaṃ karmāṇi ca durātmanaḥ |
dhyātvā bhayāt tu vaidehīṃ sā nadī na śaśaṃsa tām ||
ครั้นระลึกถึงรูปโฉมและกรรมอันชั่วร้ายของทศกัณฐ์ผู้ใจทรามแล้ว แม่น้ำนั้นด้วยความหวาดกลัว จึงมิได้บอกสิ่งใดเกี่ยวกับไวเทหี (สีตา) เลย
Remembering the evil-minded Ravana's appearance and action, the river revealed nothing about Vaidehi out of fear.
FAQs
Adharma creates an atmosphere where satya is suppressed; the verse teaches that tyranny and fear distort moral communication and obstruct righteous resolution.
The river remains silent when questioned about Sītā because it fears Rāvaṇa, remembering his appearance and cruel actions.
The verse primarily underscores Rāvaṇa’s vice—cruelty inspiring fear—thereby implying the dharmic ideal of protection, where the strong enable truth rather than silence it.