Shloka 17
रावणस्य तर्जनं सीताया धर्मोक्तिः
Ravana’s Threats and Sita’s Dharma-Centered Reply
स त्वमिक्ष्वाकुनाथं वै क्षिपन्निह न लज्जसे।चक्षुषोर्विषयं तस्य न तावदुपगच्छसि।।।।
sa tvam ikṣvākunāthaṃ vai kṣipan iha na lajjase |cakṣuṣor viṣayaṃ tasya na tāvad upagacchasi ||
اور پھر بھی تو یہاں اِکشواکوؤں کے ناتھ کو طعنہ دیتا ہے اور شرم نہیں کرتا؛ کیونکہ ابھی تک تو اس کی نگاہ کے دائرے میں نہیں آیا۔
"You are not ashamed of belittling Rama in his absence. You have not yet walked into his sight.
FAQs
Dharma rejects dishonorable speech and backbiting: it is cowardly to insult a virtuous person only in their absence.
Sītā points out that Rāvaṇa dares to insult Rāma only because Rāma is not physically present before him.
Commitment to satya and honor—Sītā demands integrity in word and deed, even from an enemy.