Chapter 20 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20

Valmiki Ramayana — Sundara Kanda

Verse 20.5

स्वधर्मो रक्षसां भीरु सर्वदैव न संशयः। गमनं वा परस्त्रीणां हरणं सम्प्रमथ्य वा॥

svadharmo rakṣasāṃ bhīru sarvadaiva na saṃśayaḥ| gamanaṃ vā parastrīṇāṃ haraṇaṃ sampramathya vā||

English Meaning

O timid damsel, for certain it is the virtue of the Rākşasas that they always visit others' wives or come by them by force.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)