Shloka 31
सीताया रावणनिन्दा — अशोकवनिकाप्रवेशः
Sita’s Rebuke of Ravana; Removal to the Ashoka Grove
तत्रैनां तर्जनैर्घोरैः पुनस्सान्त्वैश्च मैथिलीम्।आनयध्वं वशं सर्वा वन्यां गजवधूमिव।।।।
tatraināṃ tarjanair ghoraiḥ punaḥ sāntvaiś ca maithilīm |
ānayadhvaṃ vaśaṃ sarvā vanyāṃ gajavadhūm iva ||
Tại đó, tất cả các ngươi hãy khiến Maithilī phải khuất phục—khi thì bằng lời đe dọa ghê rợn, khi lại bằng lời vỗ về—như người ta thuần phục một voi cái hoang dã.
There you all bring her under control through forcing and cajoling as one would do to tame a wild she-elephant.
FAQs
The verse highlights adharma: coercion and manipulation used to subdue an innocent person. Dharma rejects domination through fear or deceit and upholds respect for another’s autonomy and consent.
After abducting Sītā, Rāvaṇa instructs the demonesses to restrain her and force her into submission using alternating threats and soothing persuasion.
Negatively, it emphasizes the absence of virtue in Rāvaṇa—his reliance on intimidation and manipulation rather than righteous conduct.