Something I've noticed since being married is that there is a confident energy that a protected woman radiates, kind of like a protective shield. It is actual shyness in the real sense of the word. It's like a "don't you dare touch me, or else my protector will teach you a lesson" energy that guys, if they have any decency at all, can kind of sense. In Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.27, Srila Prabhupada explains that shyness provides a kind of protection for women, who, though considered the weaker sex, are actually very powerful because of their ability to inspire men. "As far as the women class are concerned, they are accepted as a power of inspiration for men. As such, women are more powerful than men. Mighty Julius Caesar was controlled by a Cleopatra. Such powerful women are controlled by shyness. Therefore, shyness is important for women."
"Those who are too addicted to sex life cannot understand the purpose of the Absolute Truth, nor can they be clean in their habits, not to mention showing mercy to others. They cannot remain grave, and they have no interest in the ultimate goal of life. The ultimate goal of life is Krsna, or Visnu, but those who are addicted to sex life cannot understand that their ultimate interest is Krsna consciousness. Such people have no sense of decency." (SB 3.31.33 Ppt) Even if a man is so-called educated, even if he once-upon-a-time had good qualities, if he turns against God and commits offenses to the Lord or His devotees, he loses his learning and his good qualities. Ravana, the rakshasa king, kidnapped Princess Sita, the wife of Prince Rama, out of lust and thus lost the merits of his learning and whatever good qualities he may have once possessed, and thus brought about his own destruction.
Ravana had committed a grievous sin, so he had lost all sense of decency. He was envious, proud and had taken the position of an enemy toward the Lord. Therefore he had no good qualities, and he needed to be taught a lesson. "He [Ravana, the rakshasa king] challenged anything and everything good, and listened to no cautious counsel about the bad reaction which follows sinful activities. Valmiki says that Ravana’s mentality was such that he was living for death. In challenging Rama by the abduction of His wife Sita, Ravana surely chose death, and raced headlong toward his inevitable meeting with it. Therefore, there was no fear of sin in Ravana; until such time as he was actually cut down by a superior power, he would violate the authority of the Lord as far as possible." (BTG, #21, 1968 "The Glories of Lord Ramacandra")
Ravana was an avowed atheist. He had neither scruples nor good qualities. Because he had lost his understanding of right and wrong, he was ignorant. Although he was famous as a well-read man, he was actually ignorant because due to sin he had fallen into the category of mayayapahrta-jnana--his knowledge had been stolen by illusion. "Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me." (Bg 7.15) Therefore, because Ravana's vast learning had been marred by his offense against the Supreme Lord Ramacandra and against the Supreme Goddess Srimati Sitadevi, his knowledge was buried under illusion. He could not sense Her power, nor could he recognize his own smallness in the presence of Lord Rama. He was therefore blind to the powerful energy possessed by Mother Sita, and so, he continued to offend Her, bringing about his own demise by making advances, entreaties, threats, and finally, an ultimatum toward Mother Sita: "Accept me as Your lover or You will become my breakfast."
Sita devi could have destroyed Ravana Herself, but She chose to let Rama do it for His own glory and satisfaction. She chose instead to practice feminine shyness and absolute allegiance to Her Lord, deferring to Him the credit for destroying the wicked rakshasa monster. By taking the humble position of a pativrataa, Sitadevi hides Her feminine power under Her natural shyness. Understanding the mind and purpose of Her Lord, She gives Rama the satisfaction and glory of defeating the undefeatable Ravana, and allows Him to take full credit for this glorious feat.
Demons, who are described in Bhagavad-gita as "mayayapahrita-jnana" or "those whose knowledge is taken away by illusion," cannot understand the power of feminine women. But those who are blessed with true knowledge can understand that Sitadevi and other women who are devoted to God and to their husbands are very powerful--not in the same ways as men are powerful--but in softer, subtler, more feminine ways.
Sitadevi didn't have to depend on Rama to kill Ravana, but She chose to. Those of us who are not on the level of Princess Sita cannot necessarily destroy male predators, so we have to rely on our fathers, husbands, and sons to protect us from unscrupulous men. That is one big reason (among many) why Srila Prabhupada emphasized that every young girl should be vigilantly protected by her father, every young woman should be married, and every old woman should be protected by her sons. And if she has no sons, she should return to the house of her father or elder brother, or in the absence of both of those, she should take shelter of a protected temple or ashrama.
"Those who are too addicted to sex life cannot understand the purpose of the Absolute Truth, nor can they be clean in their habits, not to mention showing mercy to others. They cannot remain grave, and they have no interest in the ultimate goal of life. The ultimate goal of life is Krsna, or Visnu, but those who are addicted to sex life cannot understand that their ultimate interest is Krsna consciousness. Such people have no sense of decency." (SB 3.31.33 Ppt) Even if a man is so-called educated, even if he once-upon-a-time had good qualities, if he turns against God and commits offenses to the Lord or His devotees, he loses his learning and his good qualities. Ravana, the rakshasa king, kidnapped Princess Sita, the wife of Prince Rama, out of lust and thus lost the merits of his learning and whatever good qualities he may have once possessed, and thus brought about his own destruction.
Ravana had committed a grievous sin, so he had lost all sense of decency. He was envious, proud and had taken the position of an enemy toward the Lord. Therefore he had no good qualities, and he needed to be taught a lesson. "He [Ravana, the rakshasa king] challenged anything and everything good, and listened to no cautious counsel about the bad reaction which follows sinful activities. Valmiki says that Ravana’s mentality was such that he was living for death. In challenging Rama by the abduction of His wife Sita, Ravana surely chose death, and raced headlong toward his inevitable meeting with it. Therefore, there was no fear of sin in Ravana; until such time as he was actually cut down by a superior power, he would violate the authority of the Lord as far as possible." (BTG, #21, 1968 "The Glories of Lord Ramacandra")
Ravana was an avowed atheist. He had neither scruples nor good qualities. Because he had lost his understanding of right and wrong, he was ignorant. Although he was famous as a well-read man, he was actually ignorant because due to sin he had fallen into the category of mayayapahrta-jnana--his knowledge had been stolen by illusion. "Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me." (Bg 7.15) Therefore, because Ravana's vast learning had been marred by his offense against the Supreme Lord Ramacandra and against the Supreme Goddess Srimati Sitadevi, his knowledge was buried under illusion. He could not sense Her power, nor could he recognize his own smallness in the presence of Lord Rama. He was therefore blind to the powerful energy possessed by Mother Sita, and so, he continued to offend Her, bringing about his own demise by making advances, entreaties, threats, and finally, an ultimatum toward Mother Sita: "Accept me as Your lover or You will become my breakfast."
Sita devi could have destroyed Ravana Herself, but She chose to let Rama do it for His own glory and satisfaction. She chose instead to practice feminine shyness and absolute allegiance to Her Lord, deferring to Him the credit for destroying the wicked rakshasa monster. By taking the humble position of a pativrataa, Sitadevi hides Her feminine power under Her natural shyness. Understanding the mind and purpose of Her Lord, She gives Rama the satisfaction and glory of defeating the undefeatable Ravana, and allows Him to take full credit for this glorious feat.
Demons, who are described in Bhagavad-gita as "mayayapahrita-jnana" or "those whose knowledge is taken away by illusion," cannot understand the power of feminine women. But those who are blessed with true knowledge can understand that Sitadevi and other women who are devoted to God and to their husbands are very powerful--not in the same ways as men are powerful--but in softer, subtler, more feminine ways.
Sitadevi didn't have to depend on Rama to kill Ravana, but She chose to. Those of us who are not on the level of Princess Sita cannot necessarily destroy male predators, so we have to rely on our fathers, husbands, and sons to protect us from unscrupulous men. That is one big reason (among many) why Srila Prabhupada emphasized that every young girl should be vigilantly protected by her father, every young woman should be married, and every old woman should be protected by her sons. And if she has no sons, she should return to the house of her father or elder brother, or in the absence of both of those, she should take shelter of a protected temple or ashrama.
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