Shloka 17
राक्षसी-भर्त्सना
The Demonesses’ Coercive Counsel to Sītā
तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः।किमद्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्यात्वं नेच्छसेऽधमे।।।।
tasya sarvasamṛddhasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | kim adya rākṣasendrasya bhāryātvaṃ necchase 'dhame ||
“Vì sao, hỡi kẻ hèn mọn đáng khinh, nay ngươi không muốn làm chính thất của Rāvaṇa—chúa tể La-sát—kẻ đầy đủ mọi phú quý và tự xưng là bậc đại hồn?”
'O lady of beautiful brows! why don't you make up your mind to accept the king of kings, afraid of whom the trees rain flowers, the mountains and clouds release water at his will? Ravana is the king of the south-west, direction Why don't you wish to be his wife?
FAQs
It exposes adharma in two ways: insulting speech and the attempt to break a lawful marriage. Dharma honors truthful relationships and respectful speech; coercion and abuse are unethical.
A demoness pressures Sītā to accept Rāvaṇa as husband, using both praise of wealth and direct insult.
Sītā’s integrity (satya-niṣṭhā): she will not abandon her rightful bond with Rāma despite humiliation.