Shloka 18
सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा
Sita’s Counsel on Dharma and the Peril of Weapon-Association
तस्यैव तपसो विघ्नं कर्तुमिन्द्रश्शचीपतिः।।3.9.18।।खङ्गपाणिरथागच्छदाश्रमं भटरूपधृत्।
tasyaiva tapaso vighnaṃ kartuṃ indraḥ śacīpatiḥ ||3.9.18||
khaṅgapāṇir athāgacchad āśramaṃ bhaṭarūpadhṛt |
为阻挠那位苦行者的修持，因陀罗——舍契之主——手执利剑，化作侍从武士之形，来到那座道场。
O mighty-armed one, there dwelt in the past an ascetic, noble and truthful in a sacred forest where animals and birds lived merrily together.
FAQs
Dharma includes vigilance against deception and tests: even sacred practice may face deliberate obstruction, requiring steadiness in truth and discipline.
Sītā continues her exemplum: Indra approaches the ascetic’s hermitage in disguise to disrupt his austerities.
The implied virtue is steadfast tapas supported by satya—remaining unwavering even when challenged by powerful, deceptive forces.