Sita's Oath and Return to the Earth

Shloka 1 (uttara.97.1)

वाल्मीकिनैवमुक्तस्तु राघवः प्रत्यभाषत । प्राञ्जलिर्जगतो मध्ये दृष्ट्वा तां वरवर्णिनीम् ।। ७.९७.१ ।।

vālmīkinaivam uktas tu rāghavaḥ pratyabhāṣata | prāñjalir jagato madhye dṛṣṭvā tāṃ varavarṇinīm || 7.97.1 ||

Thus addressed by Valmiki, Raghava, his hands folded, seeing her of lovely hue in the midst of the assembly, replied.

Shloka 2 (uttara.97.2)

एवमेतन्महाभाग यथा वदसि धर्मवित् । प्रत्ययस्तु मम ब्रह्मंस्तव वाक्यैरकल्मषैः ।। ७.९७.२ ।।

evam etan mahābhāga yathā vadasi dharmavit | pratyayas tu mama brahmaṃs tava vākyair akalmaṣaiḥ || 7.97.2 ||

"It is indeed so, O most fortunate one, righteous knower, just as you say. Your stainless words, O brahmin, have given me full conviction."

Shloka 3 (uttara.97.3)

प्रत्ययस्तु पुरा वृत्तो वैदेह्याः सुरसन्निधौ । शपथस्तु कृतस्तत्र तेन वेश्म प्रवेशिता । लोकापवादो बलवान्येन त्यक्ता हि मैथिली ।। ७.९७.३ ।।

pratyayas tu purā vṛtto vaidehyāḥ surasannidhau | śapathas tu kṛtas tatra tena veśma praveśitā | lokāpavādo balavān yena tyaktā hi maithilī || 7.97.3 ||

"Proof was indeed given before by Vaidehi in the presence of the gods; an oath was taken there, by which she was made to enter that dwelling of fire; yet so powerful was the world's censure that, because of it, Maithili had to be abandoned."

Shloka 4 (uttara.97.4)

सेयं लोकभयाद्ब्रह्मन्नपापेत्यभिजानता । परित्यक्ता मया सीता तद्भावन्क्षन्तुमर्हति ।। ७.९७.४ ।।

seyaṃ lokabhayād brahmann apāpety abhijānatā | parityaktā mayā sītā tad bhavān kṣantum arhati || 7.97.4 ||

"O brahmin, though I knew her to be sinless, out of fear of the world I abandoned Sita -- for that, you should forgive me."

Shloka 5 (uttara.97.5)

जानामि चेमौ पुत्रौ मे यमजातौ कुशीलवौ । शुद्धायां जगतो मध्ये मैथिल्यां प्रीतिरस्तु मे ।। ७.९७.५ ।।

jānāmi cemau putrau me yamajātau kuśīlavau | śuddhāyāṃ jagato madhye maithilyāṃ prītir astu me || 7.97.5 ||

"I know that these twin-born sons, Kusha and Lava, are indeed my own; may my love be renewed for Maithili, now proven pure in the midst of this assembly."

Shloka 6 (uttara.97.6)

अभिप्रायं तु विज्ञाय रामस्य सुरसत्तमाः । सीतायाः शपथे तस्मिन् महेन्द्राद्या महौजसः ।। ७.९७.६ ।।

abhiprāyaṃ tu vijñāya rāmasya surasattamāḥ | sītāyāḥ śapathe tasmin mahendrādyā mahaujasaḥ || 7.97.6 ||

Understanding Rama's intent, the foremost of gods, Mahendra and the others of great might, came for that oath of Sita.

Shloka 7 (uttara.97.7)

पितामहं पुरस्कृत्य सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.९७.७ ।।

pitāmahaṃ puraskṛtya sarva eva samāgatāḥ || 7.97.7 ||

With the Grandfather Brahma placed foremost, all of them gathered there together.

Shloka 8 (uttara.97.8)

आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा ह्यश्विनौ समरुद्गणाः । गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.९७.८ ।।

ādityā vasavo rudrā hy aśvinau samarudgaṇāḥ | gandharvāpsarasaś caiva sarva eva samāgatāḥ || 7.97.8 ||

The Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins together with the hosts of the Maruts, and the Gandharvas and Apsaras too -- all of them gathered there.

Shloka 9 (uttara.97.9)

साध्याश्च विश्वेदेवाश्च सर्वे च परमर्षयः । नागाः सुपर्णाः सिद्धाश्च ते सर्वे हृष्टमानसाः । सीताशपथसम्भ्रान्ताः सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.९७.९ ।।

sādhyāś ca viśvedevāś ca sarve ca paramarṣayaḥ | nāgāḥ suparṇāḥ siddhāś ca te sarve hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | sītāśapathasambhrāntāḥ sarva eva samāgatāḥ || 7.97.9 ||

The Sadhyas and the Vishvedevas and all the great sages; the Nagas, the Suparnas, and the Siddhas -- all of them, their hearts joyful, eager for Sita's oath, gathered there together.

Shloka 10 (uttara.97.10)

दृष्ट्वा देवानृषींश्चैव राघवः पुनरब्रवीत् । प्रत्ययो मे नरश्रेष्ठा ऋषिवाक्यैरकल्मषैः ।। ७.९७.१० ।।

dṛṣṭvā devān ṛṣīṃś caiva rāghavaḥ punar abravīt | pratyayo me naraśreṣṭhā ṛṣivākyair akalmaṣaiḥ || 7.97.10 ||

Seeing the gods and the sages, Raghava spoke again: "O best of men, I am convinced by the sages' stainless words."

Shloka 11 (uttara.97.11)

शुद्धायां जगतो मध्ये वैदेह्यां प्रीतिरस्तु मे ।। ७.९७.११ ।।

śuddhāyāṃ jagato madhye vaidehyāṃ prītir astu me || 7.97.11 ||

"May my love be renewed for Vaidehi, now proven pure in the midst of this assembly."

Shloka 12 (uttara.97.12)

ततो वायुः शुभः पुण्यो दिव्यगन्धो मनोरमः । तज्जनौघं सुरश्रेष्ठो ह्लादयामास सर्वतः ।। ७.९७.१२ ।।

tato vāyuḥ śubhaḥ puṇyo divyagandho manoramaḥ | taj janaughaṃ suraśreṣṭho hlādayām āsa sarvataḥ || 7.97.12 ||

Then an auspicious, holy, divinely fragrant and delightful breeze, the very best among winds, gladdened that whole multitude on every side.

Shloka 13 (uttara.97.13)

तदद्भुतमिवाचिन्त्यं निरैक्षन्त समागताः । मानवाः सर्वराष्ट्रेभ्यः पूर्वं कृतयुगे यथा ।। ७.९७.१३ ।।

tad adbhutam ivācintyaṃ nirīkṣanta samāgatāḥ | mānavāḥ sarvarāṣṭrebhyaḥ pūrvaṃ kṛtayuge yathā || 7.97.13 ||

That wondrous, inconceivable sight the assembled people, come from every land, beheld, just as men had done in ages past, in the Krita Yuga.

Shloka 14 (uttara.97.14)

सर्वान्समागतान्दृष्ट्वा सीता काषायवासिनी । अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमधोदृष्टिरवाङ्मुखी ।। ७.९७.१४ ।।

sarvān samāgatān dṛṣṭvā sītā kāṣāyavāsinī | abravīt prāñjalir vākyam adhodṛṣṭir avāṅmukhī || 7.97.14 ||

Seeing all who had gathered, Sita, clad in ochre robes, her eyes lowered, her face bowed, folded her hands and spoke these words.

Shloka 15 (uttara.97.15)

यथा ऽहं राघवादन्यं मनसापि न चिन्तये । तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति ।। ७.९७.१५ ।।

yathāhaṃ rāghavād anyaṃ manasāpi na cintaye | tathā me mādhavī devī vivaraṃ dātum arhati || 7.97.15 ||

"As I have never, even in thought, dwelt upon any but Raghava, so may the goddess Madhavi grant me an opening."

Shloka 16 (uttara.97.16)

मनसा कर्मणा वाचा यथा रामं समर्चये । तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति ।। ७.९७.१६ ।।

manasā karmaṇā vācā yathā rāmaṃ samarcaye | tathā me mādhavī devī vivaraṃ dātum arhati || 7.97.16 ||

"As, in mind, in deed, and in word, I worship Rama alone, so may the goddess Madhavi grant me an opening."

Shloka 17 (uttara.97.17)

यथैतत्सत्यमुक्तं मे वेद्मि रामात्परं न च । तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति ।। ७.९७.१७ ।।

yathaitat satyam uktaṃ me vedmi rāmāt paraṃ na ca | tathā me mādhavī devī vivaraṃ dātum arhati || 7.97.17 ||

"As this that I have spoken is true -- that I know none higher than Rama -- so may the goddess Madhavi grant me an opening."

Shloka 18 (uttara.97.18)

तथा शपन्त्यां वैदेह्यां प्रादुरासीत्तदद्भुतम् । भूतलादुत्थितं दिव्यं सिंहासनमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.९७.१८ ।।

tathā śapantyāṃ vaidehyāṃ prādurāsīt tad adbhutam | bhūtalād utthitaṃ divyaṃ siṃhāsanam anuttamam || 7.97.18 ||

As Vaidehi took this oath, that wonder came to pass: a divine, matchless throne rose up from the surface of the earth.

Shloka 19 (uttara.97.19)

ध्रियमाणं शिरोभिस्तु नागैरमितविक्रमैः । दिव्यं दिव्येन वपुषा दिव्यरत्नविभूषितैः ।। ७.९७.१९ ।।

dhriyamāṇaṃ śirobhis tu nāgair amitavikramaiḥ | divyaṃ divyena vapuṣā divyaratnavibhūṣitaiḥ || 7.97.19 ||

It was borne up on the hoods of Nagas of measureless might, itself divine, of divine substance, adorned with divine gems.

Shloka 20 (uttara.97.20)

तस्मिंस्तु धरणी देवी बाहुभ्यां गृह्य मैथिलीम् । स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्यैनामासने चोपवेशयत् ।। ७.९७.२० ।।

tasmiṃs tu dharaṇī devī bāhubhyāṃ gṛhya maithilīm | svāgatenābhinandyaināmāsane copaveśayat || 7.97.20 ||

There, the goddess Dharani, taking Maithili in her two arms, welcoming her with words of greeting, seated her upon that throne.

Shloka 21 (uttara.97.21)

तामासनगतां दृष्ट्वा प्रविशन्तीं रसातलम् । पुष्पवृष्टिरविच्छिन्ना दिव्या सीतामवाकिरत् ।। ७.९७.२१ ।।

tām āsanagatāṃ dṛṣṭvā praviśantīṃ rasātalam | puṣpavṛṣṭir avicchinnā divyā sītām avākirat || 7.97.21 ||

Seeing her seated upon the throne and entering the netherworld, an unbroken shower of divine flowers rained down and covered Sita.

Shloka 22 (uttara.97.22)

साधुकारश्च सुमहान्देवानां सहसोत्थितः । साधु साध्विति वै सीते यस्यास्ते शीलमीदृशम् ।। ७.९७.२२ ।।

sādhukāraś ca sumahān devānāṃ sahasotthitaḥ | sādhu sādhv iti vai sīte yasyās te śīlam īdṛśam || 7.97.22 ||

A great cry of acclaim arose all at once from the gods: "Well done, well done, O Sita, whose conduct is such as this!"

Shloka 23 (uttara.97.23)

एवं बहुविधा वाचो ह्यन्तरिक्षगताः सुराः । व्याजह्रुर्हृष्टमनसो दृष्ट्वा सीताप्रवेशनम् ।। ७.९७.२३ ।।

evaṃ bahuvidhā vāco hy antarikṣagatāḥ surāḥ | vyājahrur hṛṣṭamanaso dṛṣṭvā sītāpraveśanam || 7.97.23 ||

Thus the gods stationed in the sky, their hearts rejoicing at the sight of Sita's entry, uttered many manner of words.

Shloka 24 (uttara.97.24)

यज्ञवाटगताश्चापि मुनयः सर्व एव ते । राजानश्च नरव्याघ्रा विस्मयान्नोपरेमिरे ।। ७.९७.२४ ।।

yajñavāṭagatāś cāpi munayaḥ sarva eva te | rājānaś ca naravyāghrā vismayān noparemire || 7.97.24 ||

And all the sages present at the sacrificial ground, and the kings, tigers among men, could not cease from their astonishment.

Shloka 25 (uttara.97.25)

अन्तरिक्षे च भूमौ च सर्वे स्थावरजङ्गमाः । दानवाश्च महाकायाः पाताले पन्नगाधिपाः ।। ७.९७.२५ ।।

antarikṣe ca bhūmau ca sarve sthāvarajaṅgamāḥ | dānavāś ca mahākāyāḥ pātāle pannagādhipāḥ || 7.97.25 ||

In the sky and on the earth all beings moving and unmoving, the huge-bodied Danavas, and the lords of serpents in the netherworld -- all were struck with wonder.

Shloka 26 (uttara.97.26)

केचिद्विनेदुः संहृष्टाः केचिद्ध्यानपरायणाः । केचिद्रामं निरीक्षन्ते केचित्सीतामचेतनाः ।। ७.९७.२६ ।।

kecid vinedus saṃhṛṣṭāḥ kecid dhyānaparāyaṇāḥ | kecid rāmaṃ nirīkṣante kecit sītām acetanāḥ || 7.97.26 ||

Some cried out in delight, some fell into deep contemplation; some gazed only at Rama, and some, beholding Sita, became as if senseless.

Shloka 27 (uttara.97.27)

सीताप्रवेशनं दृष्ट्वा तेषामासीत्समागमः । तन्मुहूर्तमिवात्यर्थं समं सम्मोहितं जगत् ।। ७.९७.२७ ।।

sītāpraveśanaṃ dṛṣṭvā teṣām āsīt samāgamaḥ | tan muhūrtam ivātyarthaṃ samaṃ sammohitaṃ jagat || 7.97.27 ||

At the sight of Sita's entry into the earth, such a gathering of them arose that, for that moment, the whole world alike was utterly transfixed.