Shloka 183
Dyumatsena’s Restoration and Sāvitrī’s Disclosure of Yama’s Boons (आरण्यकपर्व, अध्याय २८२)
उवाच वाक्य त॑ क्षुद्रे वैदेही पतिदेवता । रावणके ऐसा कहनेपर परम सुन्दर जाँघोंसे सुशोभित, पतिको ही देवता माननेवाली विदेहराजकुमारी सुमुखी सीता अपना मुँह फेरकर बीचमें तिनकेकी ओट करके राक्षसोंके लिये अमंगलसूचक आँसुओंद्वारा अपने पीन एवं उन्नत स्तनोंको निरन्तर भिगोती हुई उस नीच निशाचरसे इस प्रकार बोलीं--
rāvaṇake evaṃ kahane para parama-sundara-jāṅghābhiḥ suśobhitā patiṃ eva devatāṃ manyamānā videha-rāja-kumārī sumukhī sītā mukhaṃ parāvṛtya madhye tṛṇakasya oṭaṃ kṛtvā rākṣasānāṃ amāṅgalya-sūcakair aśrubhiḥ svān pīnāṃś ca unnata-stanān nirantaraṃ bhījayantī taṃ nīcaṃ niśācaraṃ prati evaṃ uvāca—
罗波那如此言毕，毗提诃国的公主悉多——面容姣好，双腿秀美，唯以夫君为神——便转过脸去。她以一茎草作屏障隔在两人之间，泪如雨下；那泪水乃是罗刹之不祥之兆，绵绵不绝，浸湿了她丰盈而挺起的胸脯。随后，她对那卑劣的夜行者如此说道——
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights steadfast dharma in the face of coercion: Sītā’s unwavering fidelity (pativratā-bhāva) and moral refusal to engage with adharma. The blade of grass functions as a symbolic boundary—she denies Rāvaṇa moral and social access, asserting inner autonomy and ethical clarity even under threat.
After Rāvaṇa speaks to her (attempting persuasion or intimidation), Sītā turns away, places a blade of grass between them as a sign of rejection, and weeps—tears described as ominous for the rākṣasas. She then begins to address Rāvaṇa, setting up her verbal rebuke and declaration of loyalty to her husband.