Shloka 34
रावणस्य सीताप्रलोभनम्
Ravana’s Attempt to Allure Sita
अलं व्रीडेन वैदेहि धर्मलोपकृतेन च।।3.55.34।।आर्षोऽयं दैवनिष्यन्दो यस्त्वामभिगमिष्यति।
alaṃ vrīḍena vaidehi dharma-lopa-kṛtena ca | ārṣo 'yaṃ daiva-niṣyando yas tvām abhigamiṣyati || 3.55.34 ||
Hỡi Vaidehī, chớ bị ngăn trở bởi thẹn thùng, cũng chớ nghĩ rằng điều này làm tổn hại dharma. Sự kết hợp đến với nàng là ân ban do định mệnh gửi đến, như được các bậc ṛṣi chuẩn thuận.
O Sita! you need not feel shamed that it is a violation of righteous conduct. Take it as god-send which has the approval of sages.
FAQs
The verse is a classic example of adharma rationalized as dharma: Rāvaṇa tries to relabel coercion and violation as “fate” and “ṛṣi-approved,” teaching that true dharma cannot contradict consent, fidelity, and rightful conduct.
Rāvaṇa attempts to overcome Sītā’s resistance by arguing she should not feel shame or see it as unrighteous, presenting the situation as divinely ordained.
Sītā’s moral clarity is implied: she recognizes the difference between genuine dharma and manipulative justification.