सीताभर्त्सना
The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
सुरा चानीयतां क्षिप्रं सर्वशोकविनाशिनी।मानुषं मांसमास्वाद्य नृत्यामोऽथ निकुम्भिलाम्।।5.24.47।।
surā cānīyatāṃ kṣipraṃ sarvaśokavināśinī | mānuṣaṃ māṃsam āsvādya nṛtyāmo 'tha nikumbhilām ||5.24.47||
“快把酒拿来——能消除一切忧苦之物。尝过人肉之后,我们便在尼库姆毗罗(Nikumbhilā)起舞。”
Threatened by the ogresses in that manner, Sita who was like the daughter of a god, cried aloud.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē caturviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
The verse portrays adharma as not only violence but revelry in wrongdoing; Dharma in the Ramayana is inseparable from self-control and reverence for life.
The ogresses imagine a feast and celebratory dance after harming Sītā, showing their attempt to turn sin into festivity.
Sītā’s purity (śauca) is emphasized by contrast with the rākṣasīs’ indulgence and moral disorder.