Shloka 24
सीताप्रत्याख्यानम् / Rama’s Post-Victory Address to Sītā
Public Opinion and Royal Duty
न हित्वांरावणोदृष्टवादिव्यरूपांमनोरमाम् ।मर्षयेतचिरंसीतेस्वगृहेपर्यवस्थिताम् ।।6.118.24।।
na hi tvāṁ rāvaṇo dṛṣṭvā divya-rūpāṁ manoramām |
marṣayet ciraṁ sīte sva-gṛhe paryavasthitām ||6.118.24||
แน่แท้แล้ว โอ้สีดา ครั้นราวณะได้เห็นเธอผู้มีรูปโฉมทิพย์ผุดผ่องน่ารื่นรมย์ เขาย่อมไม่อาจอดทนเก็บเธอไว้เนิ่นนานในเรือนของตนได้
"The prowess of Sugriva and also his army, his good advice and efforts in combat have become successful."
FAQs
The verse reflects the tension between personal virtue and public suspicion: dharma in royal life is portrayed as intensely tied to perceived purity and social trust, even when that perception can be harsh.
In the aftermath of the war, Rāma speaks to Sītā in a severe tone, questioning the plausibility that Rāvaṇa could have kept her in his house so long without violating her.
Concern for royal propriety (maryādā) and public credibility—though it also exposes the ethical strain of judging by probability rather than direct proof.