Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 25
सरमायाḥ सीतासान्त्वनम् तथा रावणनिश्चयश्रवणम्
Saarana Consoles Sita and Reports Ravana’s Resolve
तदेषासुस्थिराबुद्धिर्मृत्युलोभादुपस्थिता ।भयान्नशक्तस्त्वांमोक्तुमनिरस्तस्संयुगे ।।।।रक्षसानांचसर्वेषामात्मनश्चवधेनहि ।
tad eṣā susthirā buddhir mṛtyulobhād upasthitā | bhayān na śaktas tvāṃ moktum anirastaḥ saṃyuge || rakṣasāṃ ca sarveṣām ātmanaś ca vadhena hi |
这不动摇的决心，因他那与死亡相系的贪欲而生，如今已牢牢定住。出于恐惧，只要他在战阵中尚未被击溃，便不能放你离去——因为死亡确会带来一切罗刹与他自身的覆灭。
"This thought has come to him only to cause him death. Because of impending death, he is very steady in his mind. This Ravana will not be able to liberate you before his death and of the Rakshasas."
FAQs
Adharma sustained by greed and fear becomes self-destructive; refusing to restore justice triggers ruin for oneself and one’s community.
Saramā explains why Rāvaṇa will not release Sītā: his mind is fixed in a fatal obsession, and he persists until defeat in war.
Moral clarity: Saramā diagnoses the inner causes (lobha, bhaya) behind unrighteous action, reinforcing the Ramayana’s ethical psychology.