Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda — Chapter 116

VR 6 116.1

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही परुषं रोमहर्षणम्। राघवेण सरोषेण श्रुत्वा प्रव्यथिताभवत्॥

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

Being thus addressed by Rāghava, enraged, with those harsh words Sīta was greatly pained.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.2

सा तदाश्रुतपूर्वं हि जने महति मैथिली। श्रुत्वा भर्तुर्वचो घोरं लज्जयावनताभवत्॥

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

Hearing those words of her lord, unheard of, before the great assembly Maithili was greatly humiliated with shame.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.3

प्रविशन्तीव गात्राणि स्वानि सा जनकात्मजा। वाक्शरैस्तैः सशल्येव भृशमश्रूण्यवर्तयत्॥

praviśantīva gātrāṇi svāni sā janakātmajā| vākśaraistaiḥ saśalyeva bhṛśamaśrūṇyavartayat||

As if entering to her own person (with shame) and greatly pained with these arrow like words the daughter of king Janaka began to shed tears.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.4

ततो बाष्पपरिक्लिनं प्रमार्जन्ती स्वमाननम्। शनैर्गद्गदया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्॥

tato bāṣpapariklinaṃ pramārjantī svamānanam| śanairgadgadayā vācā bhartāramidamabravīt||

Thereupon wiping the tears off her countenance, she with sorrowful words, addressed her husband.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.5

किं मामसदृशं वाक्यमीदृशं श्रोत्रदारुणम्। रुक्षं श्रावयसे वीर प्राकृतः प्राकृतामिव ॥

kiṃ māmasadṛśaṃ vākyamīdṛśaṃ śrotradāruṇam| rukṣaṃ śrāvayase vīra prākṛtaḥ prākṛtāmiva ||

Why did you, O hero, like a common man addressing an ordinary woman, make me hear these, harsh and unbecoming words painful to ears?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.6

न तथास्मि महाबाहो यथा मामवगच्छसि। प्रत्ययं गच्छ मे स्वेन चारित्रेणैव ते शपे॥

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

O you of long arms, I am not what you have taken me to be. Do you believe me-I do swear by my own character.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.7

पृथक्स्त्रीणां प्रचारेण जाति त्वं परिशङ्कसे। परित्यजैनां शङ्कां तु यदि तेऽहं परीक्षिता॥

pṛthakstrīṇāṃ pracāreṇa jāti tvaṃ pariśaṅkase| parityajaināṃ śaṅkāṃ tu yadi te'haṃ parīkṣitā||

Seeing the ordinary women you are distrusting the whole sex. Do you renounce this suspicion since you have tried me.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.8

यदहं गात्रसंस्पर्श गतास्मि विवशा प्रभो। कामकारो न मे तत्र दैवं तत्रापराध्यति॥

yadahaṃ gātrasaṃsparśa gatāsmi vivaśā prabho| kāmakāro na me tatra daivaṃ tatrāparādhyati||

O lord, though my person was touched by another-but it was not in my power; nor was it an wilful act (of mine); accident is to blame in this.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.9

मदधीनं तु यत्तन्मे हृदयं त्वयि वर्तते। पराधीनेषु गात्रेषु किं करिष्याम्यनीश्वरी॥

madadhīnaṃ tu yattanme hṛdayaṃ tvayi vartate| parādhīneṣu gātreṣu kiṃ kariṣyāmyanīśvarī||

My heart is under my control and that is in you;-and what could I do of my body which was subject to another and of which I was not the mistress.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.10

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

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

O you the conferrer of honour-our affection towards one another was increased by our living continually for a long time; even then if you have not been able to understand me I am ruined for ever.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.11

प्रेषितस्ते महावीरो हनुमानवलोककः। लङ्कास्थाहं त्वया राजन्कि तदा न विसर्जिता॥

preṣitaste mahāvīro hanumānavalokakaḥ| laṅkāsthāhaṃ tvayā rājanki tadā na visarjitā||

O king, when the great hero Hanumān was despatched by you of Lankā to see me why did you not renounce me then?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.12

प्रत्यक्षं वानरस्यास्य तद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम्। त्वया संत्यक्तया वीर त्यक्तं स्याज्जीवितं मया॥

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

Had you deputed the monkey with that message I would have renounced my life there and then, O hero.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.13

न वृथा ते श्रमोऽयं स्यात्संशये न्यस्य जीवितम्। सुहृज्जनपरिक्लेशो न चायं विफलस्तव॥

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

You would not have been required to undergo this toil at the risk of your own life and giving unnecessary trouble to your friends.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.14

त्वया तु नृपशार्दूल रोषमेवानुवर्तता। लघुनेव मनुष्येण स्त्रीत्वमेव पुरस्कृतम्॥

tvayā tu nṛpaśārdūla roṣamevānuvartatā| laghuneva manuṣyeṇa strītvameva puraskṛtam||

O foremost of kings, being subject to ire-you did not perceive anything but womanhood in me, like an ordinary man.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.15

अपदेशो मे जनकानोत्पत्तिर्वसुधातलात्। मम वृत्तं च वृत्तज्ञ बहु तेन पुरस्कृतम्॥

apadeśo me janakānotpattirvasudhātalāt| mama vṛttaṃ ca vṛttajña bahu tena puraskṛtam||

Although I am known to have a father but in fact I am born of the earth. You did not sufficiently honour my character, O you conversant with character. are

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.16

न प्रमाणीकृतः पाणिर्बाल्ये मम निपीडितः। मम भक्तिश्च शीलं च सर्वं ते पृष्ठतः कृतम्॥

na pramāṇīkṛtaḥ pāṇirbālye mama nipīḍitaḥ| mama bhaktiśca śīlaṃ ca sarvaṃ te pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtam||

Your marriage with me in boyhood shall be disproved and you not sufficiently considering all my devotion and good conduct to you.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.17

इति ब्रुवन्ती रुदती बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी। उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता दीनं ध्यानपरायणम्॥

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

Saying thus with accents choked in tears and weeping Sītā spoke to Lakşmaņa, poorly and engaged in meditation.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.18

चितां मे कुरु सौमित्रे व्यसनस्यास्य भेषजम्। मिथ्यापवादोपहता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे॥

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

Make a funeral pyre for me, O Saumitri, that is the only remedy for this disaster. Being thus branded with an unfounded stigma I do not like to keep my life.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.19

अप्रीतेन गुणैर्भा त्यक्ताया जनसंसदि। या क्षमा मे गतिर्गन्तुं प्रवेक्ष्ये हव्यवाहनम्॥

aprītena guṇairbhā tyaktāyā janasaṃsadi| yā kṣamā me gatirgantuṃ pravekṣye havyavāhanam||

To adopt the proper course for me who had been renounced before this assembly by my disaffected husband I shall enter this.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.20

एवमुक्तस्तु वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। अमर्षवशमापन्नो राघवं समुदैक्षत॥

evamuktastu vaidehyā lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā| amarṣavaśamāpanno rāghavaṃ samudaikṣata||

Being thus addressed by Vaidehī, Lakşmaņa, the slayer of enemies, being possessed by anger, looked towards Rāghava.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.21

स विज्ञाय मनश्छन्दं रामस्याकारसूचितम्। चितां चकार सौमित्रिमते रामस्य वीर्यवान्॥

sa vijñāya manaśchandaṃ rāmasyākārasūcitam| citāṃ cakāra saumitrimate rāmasya vīryavān||

And understanding Rāmas intention by gestures and at his command the powerful Saumitri prepared a funeral pyre.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.22

नहि रामं तदा कश्चित्कालान्तकयमोपमम्। अनुनेतुमथो वक्तुं द्रष्टुं वाप्यशकत्सुहृत्॥

nahi rāmaṃ tadā kaścitkālāntakayamopamam| anunetumatho vaktuṃ draṣṭuṃ vāpyaśakatsuhṛt||

None dared there request, speak with or even look at Rāma like to Death, at the time of dissolution.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.23

अधोमुखं स्थितं रामं ततः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। उपावर्तत वैदेही दीप्यमानं हुताशनम्॥

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

Thereupon circumambulating Rāma, standing with his head down, Vaidehi approached the burning fire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.24

ददृशुस्तां त्रयो लोका देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। शप्तां पतन्ती निरये त्रिदिवाद्देवतामिव ॥

dadṛśustāṃ trayo lokā devagandharvadānavāḥ| śaptāṃ patantī niraye tridivāddevatāmiva ||

The three worlds-the celestials, Gandharvas and Dänavas saw her fallen like to a celestial from the heaven when imprecated.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.25

तस्यामग्नि विशन्त्यां तु हाहेति विपुलः स्वनः। रक्षसां वानराणां च संबभूवाद्भुतोपमः॥

tasyāmagni viśantyāṃ tu hāheti vipulaḥ svanaḥ| rakṣasāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca saṃbabhūvādbhutopamaḥ||

She having entered the fire, lamentations, unheard of before, rose from all sides from the Rākşasas and monkeys.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.26

प्रणम्य दैवतेभ्यश्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च मैथिली। बद्धांजलिपुटा चेदमुवाचाग्निसमीपतः॥

praṇamya daivatebhyaśca brāhmaṇebhyaśca maithilī| baddhāṃjalipuṭā cedamuvācāgnisamīpataḥ||

Bowing to the celestials and Brāhmaṇas, Maithilī, with folded hands, spoke before the fire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.27

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

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

As my heart has never gone away from Rāghava, may you protect me, O fire, the witness of the people.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.28

यथा मां शुद्धचारित्रां दुष्टां जानाति राघवः। तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः॥

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

As Rāghava consider me vile, who have got a pure character, may fire, the witness of the people, protect me on all sides.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.29

एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही परिक्रम्य हुताशनम्। विवेश ज्वलनं दीप्तं निःशङ्केनान्तरात्मना॥

evamuktvā tu vaidehī parikramya hutāśanam| viveśa jvalanaṃ dīptaṃ niḥśaṅkenāntarātmanā||

Saying this and going round the fire, Vaidehi, with undaunted heart, entered the flaming fire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.30

जनश्च सुमहांस्तत्र बालवृद्धसमाकुलः। ददर्श मैथिली दीप्तां प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम्॥

janaśca sumahāṃstatra bālavṛddhasamākulaḥ| dadarśa maithilī dīptāṃ praviśantīṃ hutāśanam||

The great assembly there, young and old, overwhelmed with grief, saw Maithili enter the flaming fire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.31

सा तप्तनवहेमाभा तप्तकांचनभूषणा। पपात ज्वलनं दीप्तं सर्वलोकस्य संनिधौ॥ ददृशुस्तां विशालाक्षीं पतन्ती हव्यवाहनम्। सीतां सर्वाणि रूपाणि रुकमवेदिनिभां तदा॥

sā taptanavahemābhā taptakāṃcanabhūṣaṇā| papāta jvalanaṃ dīptaṃ sarvalokasya saṃnidhau|| dadṛśustāṃ viśālākṣīṃ patantī havyavāhanam| sītāṃ sarvāṇi rūpāṇi rukamavedinibhāṃ tadā||

And (Sītā) resembling the burning gold entered the flaming fire in the presence of all people. All beheld Sita, having expansive eyes, enter fire like to a golden altar.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.32

ददृशुस्तां महाभागां प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम्। ऋषयो देवगन्धर्वा यज्ञे पूर्णाहुतीमिव ॥

dadṛśustāṃ mahābhāgāṃ praviśantīṃ hutāśanam| ṛṣayo devagandharvā yajñe pūrṇāhutīmiva ||

The ascetics, celestials and Gandharvas saw that great damsel enter fire like to a full oblation in the sacrifice.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.33

प्रचुक्रुशुः स्त्रियः सर्वास्तां दृष्ट्वा हव्यवाहने। पतन्तीं संस्कृतां मन्त्रैर्वसोर्धारामिवाध्वरे॥

pracukruśuḥ striyaḥ sarvāstāṃ dṛṣṭvā havyavāhane| patantīṃ saṃskṛtāṃ mantrairvasordhārāmivādhvare||

Beholding her fallen into the fire like to Vasudhārā, sanctified by Mantras in a sacrifice, all the females began to weep.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.34

ददृशुस्तां त्रयो लोका देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। शप्तां पतन्ती निरये त्रिदिवाद्देवतामिव ॥

dadṛśustāṃ trayo lokā devagandharvadānavāḥ| śaptāṃ patantī niraye tridivāddevatāmiva ||

The three worlds-the celestials, Gandharvas and Dänavas saw her fallen like to a celestial from the heaven when imprecated.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.35

तस्यामग्नि विशन्त्यां तु हाहेति विपुलः स्वनः। रक्षसां वानराणां च संबभूवाद्भुतोपमः॥

tasyāmagni viśantyāṃ tu hāheti vipulaḥ svanaḥ| rakṣasāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca saṃbabhūvādbhutopamaḥ||

She having entered the fire, lamentations, unheard of before, rose from all sides from the Rākşasas and monkeys.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.36

प्रणम्य दैवतेभ्यश्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च मैथिली। बद्धांजलिपुटा चेदमुवाचाग्निसमीपतः॥

praṇamya daivatebhyaśca brāhmaṇebhyaśca maithilī| baddhāṃjalipuṭā cedamuvācāgnisamīpataḥ||

Bowing to the celestials and Brāhmaṇas, Maithilī, with folded hands, spoke before the fire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.37

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

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

As my heart has never gone away from Rāghava, may you protect me, O fire, the witness of the people.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.38

यथा मां शुद्धचारित्रां दुष्टां जानाति राघवः। तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः॥

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

As Rāghava consider me vile, who have got a pure character, may fire, the witness of the people, protect me on all sides.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.39

एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही परिक्रम्य हुताशनम्। विवेश ज्वलनं दीप्तं निःशङ्केनान्तरात्मना॥

evamuktvā tu vaidehī parikramya hutāśanam| viveśa jvalanaṃ dīptaṃ niḥśaṅkenāntarātmanā||

Saying this and going round the fire, Vaidehi, with undaunted heart, entered the flaming fire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.40

जनश्च सुमहांस्तत्र बालवृद्धसमाकुलः। ददर्श मैथिली दीप्तां प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम्॥

janaśca sumahāṃstatra bālavṛddhasamākulaḥ| dadarśa maithilī dīptāṃ praviśantīṃ hutāśanam||

The great assembly there, young and old, overwhelmed with grief, saw Maithili enter the flaming fire.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.41

सा तप्तनवहेमाभा तप्तकांचनभूषणा। पपात ज्वलनं दीप्तं सर्वलोकस्य संनिधौ॥ ददृशुस्तां विशालाक्षीं पतन्ती हव्यवाहनम्। सीतां सर्वाणि रूपाणि रुकमवेदिनिभां तदा॥

sā taptanavahemābhā taptakāṃcanabhūṣaṇā| papāta jvalanaṃ dīptaṃ sarvalokasya saṃnidhau|| dadṛśustāṃ viśālākṣīṃ patantī havyavāhanam| sītāṃ sarvāṇi rūpāṇi rukamavedinibhāṃ tadā||

And (Sītā) resembling the burning gold entered the flaming fire in the presence of all people. All beheld Sita, having expansive eyes, enter fire like to a golden altar.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.42

ददृशुस्तां महाभागां प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम्। ऋषयो देवगन्धर्वा यज्ञे पूर्णाहुतीमिव ॥

dadṛśustāṃ mahābhāgāṃ praviśantīṃ hutāśanam| ṛṣayo devagandharvā yajñe pūrṇāhutīmiva ||

The ascetics, celestials and Gandharvas saw that great damsel enter fire like to a full oblation in the sacrifice.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

VR 6 116.43

प्रचुक्रुशुः स्त्रियः सर्वास्तां दृष्ट्वा हव्यवाहने। पतन्तीं संस्कृतां मन्त्रैर्वसोर्धारामिवाध्वरे॥

pracukruśuḥ striyaḥ sarvāstāṃ dṛṣṭvā havyavāhane| patantīṃ saṃskṛtāṃ mantrairvasordhārāmivādhvare||

Beholding her fallen into the fire like to Vasudhārā, sanctified by Mantras in a sacrifice, all the females began to weep.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)