Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 28
सीतासमीपगमनम् / Sītā Brought Near to Rāma
Public Witness and Protocol
व्यसनेषु न कृच्छ्रेषु न युद्धेषुस्वयंवरे ।न क्रतौनोविवाहेवादर्शनंदूष्यतेस्त्रियाः ।।।।
vyasaneṣu na kṛcchreṣu na yuddheṣu svayaṃvare |
na kratau no vivāhe vā darśanaṃ dūṣyate striyāḥ ||
Trong tai ương hay gian khổ, trong chiến trận, trong lễ kén rể (svayaṃvara), trong tế lễ, hay trong hôn lễ—việc người nữ xuất hiện trước công chúng không bị xem là lỗi.
"The appearance of a woman in public is not condemned in times of difficulty, in straits, in conflicts, in the selection of a husband, or in sacrificial ceremonies or marriage ceremonies."
FAQs
Dharma is contextual: social rules about visibility and modesty are not absolute; necessity, ritual, and public duty can make public appearance appropriate and blameless.
Rāma justifies that a woman’s public appearance in certain circumstances is not improper, countering excessive restriction.
Rāma’s reasoned judgment (viveka) in applying norms with sensitivity to circumstance.