Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 25
सरमायाḥ सीतासान्त्वनम् तथा रावणनिश्चयश्रवणम्
Saarana Consoles Sita and Reports Ravana’s Resolve
तदेषासुस्थिराबुद्धिर्मृत्युलोभादुपस्थिता ।भयान्नशक्तस्त्वांमोक्तुमनिरस्तस्संयुगे ।।।।रक्षसानांचसर्वेषामात्मनश्चवधेनहि ।
tad eṣā susthirā buddhir mṛtyulobhād upasthitā | bhayān na śaktas tvāṃ moktum anirastaḥ saṃyuge || rakṣasāṃ ca sarveṣām ātmanaś ca vadhena hi |
Ang di-matitinag na pasiyang ito’y sumibol sa kaniya dahil sa pagnanasa na nakatali sa kamatayan at ngayo’y nananatiling matatag. Sa takot, hindi niya kayang palayain ka habang hindi pa siya nababali sa labanan—sapagkat sa kamatayan, tunay na dumarating ang kapahamakan sa lahat ng mga Rākṣasa at sa kaniya rin.
"This thought has come to him only to cause him death. Because of impending death, he is very steady in his mind. This Ravana will not be able to liberate you before his death and of the Rakshasas."
FAQs
Adharma sustained by greed and fear becomes self-destructive; refusing to restore justice triggers ruin for oneself and one’s community.
Saramā explains why Rāvaṇa will not release Sītā: his mind is fixed in a fatal obsession, and he persists until defeat in war.
Moral clarity: Saramā diagnoses the inner causes (lobha, bhaya) behind unrighteous action, reinforcing the Ramayana’s ethical psychology.