एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही परुषं लोमहर्षणम् | राघवेण सरोषेण भृशं प्रव्यथिताभवत् || ६-११६-१
evamuktA tu vaidehI paruShaM lomaharShaNam | rAghaveNa saroSheNa bhR^ishaM pravyathitAbhavat || 6-116-1
Hearing the harsh words with indignation, spoken by Rama, which caused her hair to stand on end, Seetha became very much perturbed.
सा तदश्रुतपूर्वं हि जने महति मैथिली | श्रुत्वा भर्तृवचो रूक्षं लज्जया व्रीडिताभवत् || ६-११६-२
sA tadashrutapUrvaM hi jane mahati maithilI | shrutvA bhartR^ivacho rUkShaM lajjayA vrIDitAbhavat || 6-116-2
Hearing the terrific words of her husband, which were never actually heard by her before, amidst a large gathering of people, Seetha stood bent low with shame.
प्रविशन्तीव गात्राणि स्वान्येव जनकात्मजा | वाक्षल्यैस्तैः सशल्येव भृशमश्रूण्यवर्तयत् || ६-११६-३
pravishantIva gAtrANi svAnyeva janakAtmajA | vAkshalyaistaiH sashalyeva bhR^ishamashrUNyavartayat || 6-116-3
As though her own limbs were pierced by those words, which were arrow-like with pointed splinters, Seetha shed profuse tears.
ततो बाष्पपरिक्लिष्टं प्रमार्जन्ती स्वमाननम् | शनैर्गद्गदया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत् || ६-११६-४
tato bAShpaparikliShTaM pramArjantI svamAnanam | shanairgadgadayA vAchA bhartAramidamabravIt || 6-116-4
Then, wiping clean her face, which was bathed in tears, she spoke the following words slowly, in a stammering voice to her husband.
किं मामसदृशं वाक्यमीदृशं श्रोत्रदारुणम् | रूक्षं श्रावयसे वीर प्राकृतः प्राकृताम् इव || ६-११६-५
kiM mAmasadR^ishaM vAkyamIdR^ishaM shrotradAruNam | rUkShaM shrAvayase vIra prAkR^itaH prAkR^itAm iva || 6-116-5
"O valiant Rama! Why are you speaking such harsh words, which are violent to hear for me, like a common man speaking to a common woman?"
न तथास्मि महाबाहो यथा त्वमवगच्छसि | प्रत्ययं गच्छ मे स्वेन चारित्रेणैव ते शपे || ६-११६-६
na tathAsmi mahAbAho yathA tvamavagachchhasi | pratyayaM gachchha me svena chAritreNaiva te shape || 6-116-6
"O the long-armed one! I am not the one in the way you understand me. Have a faith in me. I swear to you by my own character."
पृथक्स्त्रीणां प्रचारेण जातिं त्वं परिशङ्कसे | परित्यजेमां शङ्कां तु यदि तेऽहं परीक्षिता || ६-११६-७
pR^ithakstrINAM prachAreNa jAtiM tvaM parisha~Nkase | parityajemAM sha~NkAM tu yadi te.ahaM parIkShitA || 6-116-7
"By the conduct of vulgar woman you distrust the entire race of women. Give up this doubt, if I have been actually tested (and found trustworthy) by you."
यद्यहं गात्रसंस्पर्शं गतास्मि विवशा प्रभो | कामकारो न मे तत्र दैवं तत्रापराध्यति || ६-११६-८
yadyahaM gAtrasaMsparshaM gatAsmi vivashA prabho | kAmakAro na me tatra daivaM tatrAparAdhyati || 6-116-8
"O lord! It was not my willfulness, when I came into contact with the person of Ravana. I was helpless. My adverse fate was to blame on that score."
मदधीनं तु यत्तन्मे हृदयं त्वयि वर्तते | पराधीनेषु गात्रेषु किं करिष्याम्यनीश्वरा || ६-११६-९
madadhInaM tu yattanme hR^idayaM tvayi vartate | parAdhIneShu gAtreShu kiM kariShyAmyanIshvarA || 6-116-9
"My heart, which was subservient to me, was abiding in you. What could I do, helpless as I was, with regard to my limbs which had fallen under the sway of another?"
सहसंवृद्धभावाच्च संसर्गेण च मानद | यद्यहं ते न विज्ञाता हता तेनास्मि शाश्वतम् || ६-११६-१०
sahasaMvR^iddhabhAvAchcha saMsargeNa cha mAnada | yadyahaM te na viGYAtA hatA tenAsmi shAshvatam || 6-116-10
"O bestower of honour! If I could not be fully known to you, in spite of our love having simultaneously grown and despite of our having lived together, I am ruined permanently by such ignorance."
प्रेषितस्ते यदा वीरो हनूमानवलोककः | लङ्कास्थाहं त्वया वीर किं तदा न विसर्जिता || ६-११६-११
preShitaste yadA vIro hanUmAnavalokakaH | la~NkAsthAhaM tvayA vIra kiM tadA na visarjitA || 6-116-11
"O king! Hanuma, the great hero, was sent by you as your search-agent. Why I, who was still in Lanka, was not abandoned then itself?"
प्रत्यक्षं वानरेन्द्रस्य त्वद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम् | त्वया सन्त्यक्तया वीर त्यक्तं स्याज्जीवितं मया || ६-११६-१२
pratyakShaM vAnarendrasya tvadvAkyasamanantaram | tvayA santyaktayA vIra tyaktaM syAjjIvitaM mayA || 6-116-12
"O hero! Life would have been given up by me, when deserted by you; immediately on hearing the message (conveying your desertion) before the eyes of the monkey."
न वृथा ते श्रमोऽयं स्यात्संशये न्यस्य जीवितम् | सुहृज्जनपरिक्लेशो न चायं निष्फलस्तव || ६-११६-१३
na vR^ithA te shramo.ayaM syAtsaMshaye nyasya jIvitam | suhR^ijjanapariklesho na chAyaM niShphalastava || 6-116-13
"This wasteful endeavour (in the form of crossing over to Lanka and waging war against the mighty Ravana, keeping your life in jeopardy), would not have been there, nor would have your friends been put to such fruitless hardship."
त्वया तु नरशार्दूल क्रोधमेवानुवर्तता | लघुनेव मनुष्येण स्त्रीत्वमेव पुरस्कृतम् || ६-११६-१४
tvayA tu narashArdUla krodhamevAnuvartatA | laghuneva manuShyeNa strItvameva puraskR^itam || 6-116-14
"O excellent king! You, however, like a feeble man, gave priority to womanliness, conforming yourself to just an emotion of anger."
अपदेशेन जनकान्नोत्पत्तिर्वसुधातलात् | मम वृत्तं च वृत्तज्ञ बहु ते न पुरस्कृतम् || ६-११६-१५
apadeshena janakAnnotpattirvasudhAtalAt | mama vR^ittaM cha vR^ittaGYa bahu te na puraskR^itam || 6-116-15
"O knower of virtuous conduct! My birth was from Janaka in disguise; but was actually from the earth. My sacred birth of such a high degree, was not honoured by you."
न प्रमाणीकृतः पाणिर्बाल्ये बालेन पीडितः | मम भक्तिश्च शीलं च सर्वं ते पृष्ठतः कृतम् || ६-११६-१६
na pramANIkR^itaH pANirbAlye bAlena pIDitaH | mama bhaktishcha shIlaM cha sarvaM te pR^iShThataH kR^itam || 6-116-16
"My hand taken (by you as a bride) in our childhood was not duly recognized by you. My devotion, my chastity and all have been ignored by you."
इति ब्रुवन्ती रुदती बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी | उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता दीनं ध्यानपरायणम् || ६-११६-१७
iti bruvantii rudatii baaShpagadgadabhaaShiNii | uvaacha lakShmaNaM siitaa diinaM dhyaanaparaayaNam || 6-116-17
Seetha, thus speaking, weeping and stammering with tears, said to Lakshmana, who was sad and engaged in thoughtfulness (as follows):
चितां मे कुरु सौमित्रे व्यसनस्यास्य भेषजम् | मिथ्यापवादोपहता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे || ६-११६-१८
chitaaM me kuru saumitre vyasanasyaasya bheShajam | mithyaapavaadopahataa naahaM jiivitumutsahe || 6-116-18
"O Lakshmana! Create a pile of fire, for me, which is a remedy for this disaster. I no longer wish to survive, smitten as am with false blames."
अप्रीतेन गुणैर्भर्त्रा त्यक्ता या जनसंसदि | या क्षमा मे गतिर्गन्तुं प्रवेक्ष्ये हव्यवाहनम् || ६-११६-१९
apriitena guNairbhartraa tyaktaa yaa janasaMsadi | yaa kShamaa me gatirgantuM pravekShye havyavaahanam || 6-116-19
"I will enter a fire, to obtain the only course appropriate for me, who has been abandoned amidst an assembly of men, by my husband who was not satisfied with my traits."
एवं ब्रुवाणा रुदती बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी | अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं सीता दीनं ध्यानपरं स्थितम् || ६-११६-२०
evaM bruvANA rudatI bAShpagadgadabhAShiNI | abravIllakShmaNaM sItA dInaM dhyAnaparaM sthitam || 6-116-20
Hearing the words of Seetha, Lakshmana, the destroyer of enemy warriors, giving way to wrath, looked towards Rama.
स विज्ञाय मनश्छन्दं रामस्याकारसूचितम् | चितां चकार सौमित्रिर्मते रामस्य वीर्यवान् || ६-११६-२१
sa viGYAya manashchhandaM rAmasyAkArasUchitam | chitAM chakAra saumitrirmate rAmasya vIryavAn || 6-116-21
Understanding the inclination of the mind of Rama, hinted by the expression in his face, that valiant Lakshmana prepared a pyre, in deference to the wishes of Rama.
न हि रामं तदा कश्चित्कालान्तकयमोपमम् | अनुनेतुमथो वक्तुं द्रष्टुं वा प्यशकत्सुहृत् || ६-११६-२२
na hi raamaM tadaa kashchitkaalaantakayamopamam | anunetumatho vaktuM draShTuM vaa pyashakatsuhR^it || 6-116-22
No one near and dear was indeed able to cajole on that occasion or to speak or even to look upon Rama, who appeared like Yama the lord of death at the time of dissolution of the world.
अधोमुखं ततो रामं शनैः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् | उपासर्पत वैदेही दीप्यमानं हुताशनम् || ६-११६-२३
adhomukhaM tato rAmaM shanaiH kR^itvA pradakShiNam | upAsarpata vaidehI dIpyamAnaM hutAshanam || 6-116-23
Thereupon, Seetha, after doing circumambulation to Rama, who was standing with his head bent low, proceeded towards the blazing fire.
प्रणम्य देवताभ्यश्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च मैथिली | बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा चेदमुवाचाग्निसमीपतः || ६-११६-२४
praNamya devatAbhyashcha brAhmaNebhyashcha maithilI | baddhA~njalipuTA chedamuvAchAgnisamIpataH || 6-116-24
Having offered salutation to gods and brahmins as also having joined her palms in the vicinity of the fire, Seetha spoke the following words:
यथा मे हृदयं नित्यं नापसर्पति राघवात् | तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः || ६-११६-२५
yathA me hR^idayaM nityaM nApasarpati rAghavAt | tathA lokasya sAkShI mAM sarvataH pAtu pAvakaH || 6-116-25
"As my heart never moves off from Rama, so let the fire-god, the witness of the world, protect me from all sides."
यथा मां शुद्धचरितां दुष्टां जानाति राघवः | तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः || ६-११६-२६
yathaa maaM shuddhacharitaaM duShTaaM jaanaati raaghavaH | tathaa lokasya saakShii maaM sarvataH paatu paavakaH || 6-116-26
"As Rama apprehends me, though of unimpeachable conduct, to be spoilt, let the fire-god the witness of the world protect me from all sides."
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यथा नातिचराम्यहम् | राघवं सर्वधर्मज्ञं तथा मां पातु पावकः || ६-११६-२७
karmaNaa manasaa vaachaa yathaa naaticharaamyaham | raaghavaM sarvadharmajJNaM tathaa maaM paatu paavakaH || 6-116-27
"As I have never been unfaithful in act, thought and speech to Rama, who knows all the virtues, so let the fire-god protect me."
आदित्योभवान् वायुर्दिशश्चन्द्रस्तथैव च | अहश्चापि तथा सन्ध्ये रात्रिश्च पृथिवी तथा || ६-११६-२८ यथान्येऽपि विजानन्ति तथा चारित्रसंयुताम् |
aadityobhavaan vaayurdishashchandrastathaiva cha | ahashcaapi tathaa sandhye raatrishcha pR^ithivii tathaa || 6-116-28 yathaanye.api vijaananti tathaa chaaritrasaMyutaam |
"Since the adorable sun-god, wind-god, the four quarters and even so the moon-god, as also the deity presiding over the day-time and the twilights and the night and the earth and even others know me to be endowed with good conduct, so let the fire-god protect me."
एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही परिक्रम्य हुताशनम् || ६-११६-२९ विवेश ज्वलनं दीप्तं निःसङ्गेनान्तरात्मना |
evamuktvA tu vaidehI parikramya hutAshanam || 6-116-29 vivesha jvalanaM dIptaM niHsa~NgenAntarAtmanA |
Thus speaking, Seetha walking around the fire-god, with her mind free from hesitation, entered the blazing fire.
जनः स सुमहांस्तत्र बालवृद्धसमाकुलः || ६-११६-३० ददर्श मैथिलीं तत्र प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम् |
janaH sa sumahAMstatra bAlavR^iddhasamAkulaH || 6-116-30 dadarsha maithilIM tatra pravishantIM hutAshanam |
A large gathering of men including children and elders, saw the shining Seetha having entered the fire there.
सा तप्तनवहेमाभा तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणा || ६-११६-३१ पपात ज्वलनं दीप्तं सर्वलोकस्य संनिधौ |
saa taptanavahemaabhaa taptakaaJNchanabhuuShaNaa || 6-116-31 papaata jvalanaM diiptaM sarvalokasya saMnidhau |
That Seetha, with the shining of fresh refined gold and decked with ornaments of refined gold, plunged into the blazing fire, in the presence of all people.
ददृशुस्तां विशालाक्षीं पतन्तीं हव्यवाहनम् || ६-११६-३२ सीतां सर्वाणि रूपाणि रुक्मवेदिनिभां तदा |
dadR^ishustaaM vishaalaakShiiM patantiiM havyavaahanam || 6-116-32 siitaaM sarvaaNi ruupaaNi rukmavedinibhaaM tadaa |
All the living beings saw then that wide-eyed Seetha, who looked like a golden altar, plunging into the fire.
ददृशुस्तां महाभागां प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम् || ६-११६-३३ सीतां कृत्स्नास्त्रयो लोकाः पुण्यामाज्याहुतीमिव |
dadR^ishustaaM mahaabhaagaaM pravishantiiM hutaashanam || 6-116-33 siitaaM kR^itsnaastrayo lokaaH puNyaamaajyaahutiimiva |
The sages, gods, and the Gandharvas saw that illustrious Seetha entering deep into the fire as a sacred oblation of clarified butter.
प्रचुक्रुशुः स्त्रियः सर्वास्तां दृष्ट्वा हव्यवाहने || ६-११६-३४ पतन्तीं संस्कृतां मन्रैर्वसोर्धारामिवाध्वरे |
prachukrushuH striyaH sarvaastaaM dR^iShTvaa havyavaahane || 6-116-34 patantiiM saMskR^itaaM manrairvasordhaaraamivaadhvare |
All the women (who were present there) screamed on seeing her, rushing into the fire, like a gush of clarified butter plunging into the sacrificial fire, duly consecrated by Vedic hymns.
ददृशुस्तां त्रयो लोका देवगन्धर्वदाननाः || ६-११६-३५ शप्तां पतन्तीं निरये त्रिदिवाद्देवतामिव |
dadR^ishustaaM trayo lokaa devagandharvadaananaaH || 6-116-35 shaptaaM patantiiM niraye tridivaaddevataamiva |
The denizens of the entire three worlds including the gods, Gandharvas and demons, beheld her falling into the fire, like a goddess, subjected to a curse, falling from heaven to hell.
तस्यामग्निं विशन्त्यां तु हाहेति विपुलः स्वनः || ६-११६-३६ रक्षसां वानराणां च सम्बभूवाद्भुतोपमः |
tasyAmagniM vishantyAM tu hAheti vipulaH svanaH || 6-116-36 rakShasAM vAnarANAM cha sambabhUvAdbhutopamaH |
While she was entering deeply into the fire, a loud sound, which appeared strange, uttering 'Alas, Alas' rose both from the demons and the monkeys alike.
