Shloka 23
सीताव्यथा
वर्णनम् / Sītā’s Distress and Rāvaṇa’s Attempt at Coercive Allurement
समीक्षमाणां रुदतीमनिन्दितां सुपक्ष्मताम्रायतशुक्ललोचनाम्।अनुव्रतां राममतीव मैथिलीं प्रलोभयामास वधाय रावणः।।।।
samīkṣamāṇāṃ rudatīm aninditāṃ supakṣmatāmrāyataśuklalocanām |
anuvratāṃ rāmam atīva maithilīṃ pralobhayāmāsa vadhāya rāvaṇaḥ ||
Khi nàng Maithilī vô tì nhìn quanh mà khóc—đôi mắt lớn sáng trong, hàng mi đẹp viền quanh, khóe hơi ửng đỏ—Rāvaṇa tìm cách dụ dỗ; nhưng thấy nàng tuyệt đối thủy chung với Rāma, hắn liền dùng lời đe dọa giết hại.
She was emaciated, absorbed in thought of Rama alone and crying and unable to find the end to her grief.
FAQs
Dharma resists coercion and temptation: Sītā’s satya (truthfulness to her marriage and values) does not yield, even under threat of death.
Rāvaṇa attempts persuasion and seduction; failing that, he turns to intimidation and threats against Sītā’s life.
Ananyatā and satya-niṣṭhā—exclusive devotion and truth-based steadfastness in the face of fear.