Sita's Trial by Fire

Shloka 1 (yuddha.116.1)

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही परुषं रोमहर्षणम् | राघवेण सरोषेण श्रुत्वा प्रव्यथिताभवत् ॥ 116.1 ॥

evamuktā tu vaidehī paruṣaṃ romaharṣaṇam | rāghaveṇa saroṣeṇa śrutvā pravyathitābhavat || 116.1 ||

Hearing these harsh, hair-raising words spoken by Raghava in anger, Vaidehi was struck with deep anguish.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.116.2)

सा तदाश्रुतपूर्वं हि जने महति मैथिली | श्रुत्वा भर्तुर्वचो घोरं लज्जयावनताभवत् ॥ 116.2 ॥

sā tadāśrutapūrvaṃ hi jane mahati maithilī | śrutvā bharturvaco ghoraṃ lajjayāvanatābhavat || 116.2 ||

Never before, in so vast an assembly, had she heard such terrible words from her husband; Maithili, overcome with shame, bowed her head low.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.116.3)

प्रविशन्तीव गात्राणि स्वानि सा जनकात्मजा | वाक्शरैस्तैः सशल्येव भृशमश्रूण्यवर्तयत् ॥ 116.3 ॥

praviśantīva gātrāṇi svāni sā janakātmajā | vākśaraistaiḥ saśalyeva bhṛśamaśrūṇyavartayat || 116.3 ||

As though those word-arrows, barbed like darts, were piercing her very limbs, Janaka's daughter wept profusely.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.116.4)

ततो बाष्पपरिक्लिष्टं प्रमार्जन्ती स्वमाननम् | शनैर्गद्गदया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 116.4 ॥

tato bāṣpaparikliṣṭaṃ pramārjantī svamānanam | śanairgadgadayā vācā bhartāramidamabravīt || 116.4 ||

Then, slowly wiping her tear-drenched face, she spoke these words to her husband in a voice choked with sobs.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.116.5)

किं मामसदृशं वाक्यमीदृशं श्रोत्रदारुणम् | रूक्षं श्रावयसे वीर प्राकृतः प्राकृताम् इव ॥ 116.5 ॥

kiṃ māmasadṛśaṃ vākyamīdṛśaṃ śrotradāruṇam | rūkṣaṃ śrāvayase vīra prākṛtaḥ prākṛtām iva || 116.5 ||

"Why, O hero, do you speak to me such unbefitting words, harsh and painful to hear, as a common man might speak to a common woman?

Shloka 6 (yuddha.116.6)

न तथास्मि महाबाहो यथा त्वमवगच्छसि | प्रत्ययं गच्छ मे स्वेन चारित्रेणैव ते शपे ॥ 116.6 ॥

na tathāsmi mahābāho yathā tvamavagacchasi | pratyayaṃ gaccha me svena cāritreṇaiva te śape || 116.6 ||

I am not what you take me to be, O mighty-armed one. Trust me — I swear this to you by my own conduct.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.116.7)

पृथक्स्त्रीणां प्रचारेण जातिं त्वं परिशङ्कसे | परित्यजेमां शङ्कां तु यदि तेऽहं परीक्षिता ॥ 116.7 ॥

pṛthakstrīṇāṃ pracāreṇa jātiṃ tvaṃ pariśaṅkase | parityajemāṃ śaṅkāṃ tu yadi te'haṃ parīkṣitā || 116.7 ||

Because of the conduct of some lesser women, you have come to doubt the whole race of women. If I have truly been tested by you, abandon this suspicion.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.116.8)

यद्यहं गात्रसंस्पर्शं गतास्मि विवशा प्रभो | कामकारो न मे तत्र दैवं तत्रापराध्यति ॥ 116.8 ॥

yadyahaṃ gātrasaṃsparśaṃ gatāsmi vivaśā prabho | kāmakāro na me tatra daivaṃ tatrāparādhyati || 116.8 ||

O lord, if, helpless, my body came into contact with another, that was never by my will — fate alone was at fault there.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.116.9)

मदधीनं तु यत्तन्मे हृदयं त्वयि वर्तते | पराधीनेषु गात्रेषु किं करिष्याम्यनीश्वरा ॥ 116.9 ॥

madadhīnaṃ tu yattanme hṛdayaṃ tvayi vartate | parādhīneṣu gātreṣu kiṃ kariṣyāmyanīśvarā || 116.9 ||

This heart of mine, ever subject to me, dwells only in you. But being powerless, what could I do about a body that had fallen under another's control?

Shloka 10 (yuddha.116.10)

सह संवृद्धभावेन संसर्गेण च मानद | यदि तेऽहं न विज्ञाता हता तेनास्मि शाश्वतम् ॥ 116.10 ॥

saha saṃvṛddhabhāvena saṃsargeṇa ca mānada | yadi te'haṃ na vijñātā hatā tenāsmi śāśvatam || 116.10 ||

O giver of honor, despite our love that grew together and the long companionship we shared, if even now I remain unknown to you, then I am ruined forever.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.116.11)

प्रेषितस्ते महावीरो हनुमानवलोककः | लङ्कास्थाहं त्वया राजन् किं तदा न विसर्जिता ॥ 116.11 ॥

preṣitaste mahāvīro hanumānavalokakaḥ | laṅkāsthāhaṃ tvayā rājan kiṃ tadā na visarjitā || 116.11 ||

O king, when you sent the great hero Hanuman to find me, I was there in Lanka itself — why was I not abandoned then?

Shloka 12 (yuddha.116.12)

प्रत्यक्षं वानरस्यास्य तद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम् | त्वया संत्यक्तया वीर त्यक्तं स्याज्जीवितं मया ॥ 116.12 ॥

pratyakṣaṃ vānarasyāsya tadvākyasamanantaram | tvayā saṃtyaktayā vīra tyaktaṃ syājjīvitaṃ mayā || 116.12 ||

Right before that monkey's eyes, the moment I heard your message of rejection, O hero, I would have given up my life then and there.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.116.13)

न वृथा ते श्रमोऽयं स्यात्संशये न्यस्य जीवितम् | सुहृज्जनपरिक्लेशो न चायं निष्फलस्तव ॥ 116.13 ॥

na vṛthā te śramo'yaṃ syātsaṃśaye nyasya jīvitam | suhṛjjanaparikleśo na cāyaṃ niṣphalastava || 116.13 ||

Then this labor of yours would not have been in vain, nor your life risked, nor would your loyal friends have borne this hardship fruitlessly.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.116.14)

त्वया तु नरशार्दूल क्रोधमेवानुवर्तता | लघुनेव मनुष्येण स्त्रीत्वमेव पुरस्कृतम् ॥ 116.14 ॥

tvayā tu naraśārdūla krodhamevānuvartatā | laghuneva manuṣyeṇa strītvameva puraskṛtam || 116.14 ||

But you, O tiger among men, following mere anger like a petty man, gave precedence to the frailty befitting a weak woman's judgment, not your own greatness.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.116.15)

अपदेशेन जनकान्नोत्पत्तिर्वसुधातलात् | मम वृत्तं च वृत्तज्ञ बहु ते न पुरस्कृतम् ॥ 116.15 ॥

apadeśena janakānnotpattirvasudhātalāt | mama vṛttaṃ ca vṛttajña bahu te na puraskṛtam || 116.15 ||

O knower of virtue, though my birth from Janaka was but a name — in truth I sprang from the earth — even so, my noble conduct was given no weight by you.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.116.16)

न प्रमाणीकृतः पाणिर्बाल्ये बालेन पीडितः | मम भक्तिश्च शीलं च सर्वं ते पृष्ठतः कृतम् ॥ 116.16 ॥

na pramāṇīkṛtaḥ pāṇirbālye bālena pīḍitaḥ | mama bhaktiśca śīlaṃ ca sarvaṃ te pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtam || 116.16 ||

Even my hand, taken by you in childhood, was given no honor; my devotion and my character — all of it you set aside.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.116.17)

इति ब्रुवन्ती रुदती बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी | उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता दीनं ध्यानपरायणम् ॥ 116.17 ॥

iti bruvantī rudatī bāṣpagadgadabhāṣiṇī | uvāca lakṣmaṇaṃ sītā dīnaṃ dhyānaparāyaṇam || 116.17 ||

Thus speaking, weeping, her voice broken with tears, Sita said to Lakshmana, who stood sorrowful, lost in thought —

Shloka 18 (yuddha.116.18)

चितां मे कुरु सौमित्रे व्यसनस्यास्य भेषजम् | मिथ्यापवादोपहता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे ॥ 116.18 ॥

citāṃ me kuru saumitre vyasanasyāsya bheṣajam | mithyāpavādopahatā nāhaṃ jīvitumutsahe || 116.18 ||

"O Saumitri, build a pyre for me — the one remedy for this calamity. Struck by a false accusation, I no longer wish to live.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.116.19)

अप्रीतेन गुणैर्भर्त्रा त्यक्ता या जनसंसदि | या क्षमा मे गतिर्गन्तुं प्रवेक्ष्ये हव्यवाहनम् ॥ 116.19 ॥

aprītena guṇairbhartrā tyaktā yā janasaṃsadi | yā kṣamā me gatirgantuṃ pravekṣye havyavāhanam || 116.19 ||

Abandoned in this great assembly by a husband displeased with my qualities, the only fitting course left to me is this — I shall enter the fire."

Shloka 20 (yuddha.116.20)

एवमुक्तस्तु वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा | अमर्षवशमापन्नो राघवं समुदैक्षत ॥ 116.20 ॥

evamuktastu vaidehyā lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā | amarṣavaśamāpanno rāghavaṃ samudaikṣata || 116.20 ||

Thus addressed by Vaidehi, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, was overcome with indignation and looked toward Raghava.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.116.21)

स विज्ञाय मनश्छन्दं रामस्याकारसूचितम् | चितां चकार सौमित्रिर्मते रामस्य वीर्यवान् ॥ 116.21 ॥

sa vijñāya manaśchandaṃ rāmasyākārasūcitam | citāṃ cakāra saumitrirmate rāmasya vīryavān || 116.21 ||

Understanding Rama's inner wish, hinted by the expression on his face, the valiant son of Sumitra built the pyre in deference to Rama's will.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.116.22)

न हि रामं तदा कश्चित्कालान्तकयमोपमम् | अनुनेतुमथो वक्तुं द्रष्टुं वा प्यशकत्सुहृत् ॥ 116.22 ॥

na hi rāmaṃ tadā kaścitkālāntakayamopamam | anunetumatho vaktuṃ draṣṭuṃ vā pyaśakatsuhṛt || 116.22 ||

At that moment no friend, however dear, dared console, address, or even look upon Rama, who seemed like Yama, destroyer of the world at time's end.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.116.23)

अधोमुखं स्थितं रामं ततः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् | उपावर्तत वैदेही दीप्यमानं हुताशनम् ॥ 116.23 ॥

adhomukhaṃ sthitaṃ rāmaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam | upāvartata vaidehī dīpyamānaṃ hutāśanam || 116.23 ||

Then, having circled Rama, who stood with his head bowed, Vaidehi advanced toward the blazing fire.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.116.24)

प्रणम्य देवताभ्यश्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च मैथिली | बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा चेदमुवाचाग्निसमीपतः ॥ 116.24 ॥

praṇamya devatābhyaśca brāhmaṇebhyaśca maithilī | baddhāñjalipuṭā cedamuvācāgnisamīpataḥ || 116.24 ||

Bowing to the gods and to the brahmins, Maithili, with joined palms, spoke thus near the fire —

Shloka 25 (yuddha.116.25)

यथा मे हृदयं नित्यं नापसर्पति राघवात् | तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः ॥ 116.25 ॥

yathā me hṛdayaṃ nityaṃ nāpasarpati rāghavāt | tathā lokasya sākṣī māṃ sarvataḥ pātu pāvakaḥ || 116.25 ||

"As my heart never for a moment strays from Raghava, so may Fire, the witness of the world, protect me on every side.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.116.26)

यथा मां शुद्धचरितां दुष्टां जानाति राघवः | तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः ॥ 116.26 ॥

yathā māṃ śuddhacaritāṃ duṣṭāṃ jānāti rāghavaḥ | tathā lokasya sākṣī māṃ sarvataḥ pātu pāvakaḥ || 116.26 ||

As Raghava considers me wicked, though my conduct is wholly pure, so may Fire, the witness of the world, protect me on every side.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.116.27)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यथा नातिचराम्यहम् | राघवं सर्वधर्मज्ञं तथा मां पातु पावकः ॥ 116.27 ॥

karmaṇā manasā vācā yathā nāticarāmyaham | rāghavaṃ sarvadharmajñaṃ tathā māṃ pātu pāvakaḥ || 116.27 ||

As I have never been unfaithful in deed, thought, or word to Raghava, who knows the whole of dharma, so may Fire protect me.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.116.28)

आदित्यो भगवान् वायुर्दिशश्चन्द्रस्तथैव च | अहश्चापि तथा सन्ध्ये रात्रिश्च पृथिवी तथा | यथान्येऽपि विजानन्ति तथा चारित्रसंयुताम् ॥ 116.28 ॥

ādityo bhagavān vāyurdiśaścandrastathaiva ca | ahaścāpi tathā sandhye rātriśca pṛthivī tathā | yathānye'pi vijānanti tathā cāritrasaṃyutām || 116.28 ||

As the adorable Sun-god, the Wind, the quarters, the Moon, the day, the twilight, the night, and the Earth — and as all others too — know my conduct to be true..."

Shloka 29 (yuddha.116.29)

एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही परिक्रम्य हुताशनम् | विवेश ज्वलनं दीप्तं निःसङ्गेनान्तरात्मना ॥ 116.29 ॥

evamuktvā tu vaidehī parikramya hutāśanam | viveśa jvalanaṃ dīptaṃ niḥsaṅgenāntarātmanā || 116.29 ||

Having spoken thus, Vaidehi circled the fire and, her inmost soul free of doubt, entered the blazing flame.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.116.30)

जनः स सुमहांस्तत्र बालवृद्धसमाकुलः | ददर्श मैथिलीं तत्र प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम् ॥ 116.30 ॥

janaḥ sa sumahāṃstatra bālavṛddhasamākulaḥ | dadarśa maithilīṃ tatra praviśantīṃ hutāśanam || 116.30 ||

That vast crowd gathered there, thronging with the old and the young, watched Maithili entering the fire.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.116.31)

सा तप्तनवहेमाभा तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणा | पपात ज्वलनं दीप्तं सर्वलोकस्य संनिधौ ॥ 116.31 ॥

sā taptanavahemābhā taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇā | papāta jvalanaṃ dīptaṃ sarvalokasya saṃnidhau || 116.31 ||

Radiant as freshly-refined gold, adorned with ornaments of refined gold, she fell into the blazing fire before the eyes of the whole world.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.116.32)

ददृशुस्तां विशालाक्षीं पतन्तीं हव्यवाहनम् | सीतां सर्वाणि रूपाणि रुक्मवेदिनिभां तदा ॥ 116.32 ॥

dadṛśustāṃ viśālākṣīṃ patantīṃ havyavāhanam | sītāṃ sarvāṇi rūpāṇi rukmavedinibhāṃ tadā || 116.32 ||

All beings then beheld that wide-eyed Sita, resembling a golden altar, falling into the fire.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.116.33)

ददृशुस्तां महाभागां प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम् | सीतां कृत्स्नास्त्रयो लोकाः पुण्यामाज्याहुतीमिव ॥ 116.33 ॥

dadṛśustāṃ mahābhāgāṃ praviśantīṃ hutāśanam | sītāṃ kṛtsnāstrayo lokāḥ puṇyāmājyāhutīmiva || 116.33 ||

All three worlds beheld that most fortunate Sita entering the fire, like a sacred oblation of ghee poured into a sacrifice.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.116.34)

प्रचुक्रुशुः स्त्रियः सर्वास्तां दृष्ट्वा हव्यवाहने | पतन्तीं संस्कृतां मन्त्रैर्वसोर्धारामिवाध्वरे ॥ 116.34 ॥

pracukruśuḥ striyaḥ sarvāstāṃ dṛṣṭvā havyavāhane | patantīṃ saṃskṛtāṃ mantrairvasordhārāmivādhvare || 116.34 ||

Seeing her fall into the fire, all the women there cried out, as though a stream of clarified butter, duly consecrated with mantras, were being poured into a sacrificial flame.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.116.35)

ददृशुस्तां त्रयो लोका देवगन्धर्वदानवाः | शप्तां पतन्तीं निरये त्रिदिवाद्देवतामिव ॥ 116.35 ॥

dadṛśustāṃ trayo lokā devagandharvadānavāḥ | śaptāṃ patantīṃ niraye tridivāddevatāmiva || 116.35 ||

The three worlds, together with gods, gandharvas, and danavas, beheld her falling as though a cursed goddess plunging from heaven into hell.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.116.36)

तस्यामग्निं विशन्त्यां तु हाहेति विपुलः स्वनः | रक्षसां वानराणां च सम्बभूवाद्भुतोपमः ॥ 116.36 ॥

tasyāmagniṃ viśantyāṃ tu hāheti vipulaḥ svanaḥ | rakṣasāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca sambabhūvādbhutopamaḥ || 116.36 ||

As she entered the fire, a vast and astonishing cry of "Alas! Alas!" rose at once from the rakshasas and the vanaras alike.