Shloka 18
रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च
Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka
प्रत्याख्याय हि मां भीरु परितापं गमिष्यसि।चरणेनाभिहत्येव पुरूरवसमूर्वशी।।।।
pratyākhyāya hi māṃ bhīru paritāpaṃ gamiṣyasi | caraṇenābhihatyeva purūravasam ūrvaśī ||
Nếu nàng khước từ ta, hỡi người nhút nhát, nàng sẽ chìm trong hối hận—như Urvaśī, tựa hồ đã dùng chân đá Purūravas rồi về sau đau đớn ăn năn.
O timid lady if you reject me, you will regret like Urvasi who kicked Pururava and regretted later.
FAQs
The verse illustrates unethical persuasion by fear of future regret. Dharma supports choices grounded in truth and right, not in threats or manipulative comparisons.
Rāvaṇa attempts to pressure Sītā by warning she will repent, citing a famous mythic pair as an example.
Sītā’s courage and clarity—resisting intimidation and holding to dharma despite psychological pressure.