दुहिता जनकस्याहं वैदेहस्य महात्मनः। सीतेति नाम्ना चोक्ताहं भार्या रामस्य धीमतः
I am the daughter of Janaka, the great-souled king of Videha; I am called Sita by name, the wife of wise Rama.
समा द्वादश तत्राहं राघवस्य निवेशने। भुञ्जाना मानुषान् भोगान् सर्वकामसमृद्धिनी
For twelve years I dwelled in Rama's house, enjoying human pleasures, fulfilled in every desire.
ततस्त्रयोदशे वर्षे राज्ये चेक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्। अभिषेचयितुं राजा सोपाध्यायः प्रचक्रमे
Then, in the thirteenth year, the king, together with his priests, began preparations to install Ikshvaku's descendant as king.
तस्मिन् सम्भ्रियमाणे तु राघवस्याभिषेचने। कैकेयी नाम भर्तारमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
While the consecration of Rama was being arranged, Kaikeyi spoke these words to her husband:
न पिबेयं न खादेयं प्रत्यहं मम भोजनम्। एष मे जीवितस्यान्तो रामो यद्यभिषिच्यते
'I will neither drink nor eat any food each day; this is the end of my life if Rama is anointed.'
यत् तदुक्तं त्वया वाक्यं प्रीत्या नृपतिसत्तम। तच्चेन्न वितथं कार्यं वनं गच्छतु राघवः
'That promise you made to me out of affection, O best of kings—if it is not to be in vain, let Rama go to the forest.'
स राजा सत्यवाग् देव्या वरदानमनुस्मरन्। मुमोह वचनं श्रुत्वा कैकेय्याः क्रूरमप्रियम्
Then the king, steadfast in truth, recalling the boon he had granted the queen, was overcome with grief on hearing Kaikeyi's cruel and harsh words.
ततस्तं स्थविरो राजा सत्यधर्मे व्यवस्थितः। ज्येष्ठं यशस्विनं पुत्रं रुदन् राज्यमयाचत
Then that aged king, established in the law of truth, weeping, asked his illustrious eldest son to give up the kingdom.
स पितुर्वचनं श्रीमानभिषेकात् परं प्रियम्। मनसा पूर्वमासाद्य वाचा प्रतिगृहीतवान्
He, the glorious one, having already accepted in his heart his father's command, which was dearer than the consecration, then accepted it in words.
दद्यान्न प्रतिगृह्णीयात् सत्यं ब्रूयान्न चानृतम्। अपि जीवितहेतोर्हि रामः सत्यपराक्रमः
Rama, whose valor is in truth, would give but not accept, would speak the truth and never falsehood, even for the sake of his own life.
स विहायोत्तरीयाणि महार्हाणि महायशाः। विसृज्य मनसा राज्यं जनन्यै मां समादिशत्
He, of great fame, set aside his costly upper garments, renounced the kingdom in his heart, and entrusted me to his mother.
साहं तस्याग्रतस्तूर्णं प्रस्थिता वनचारिणी। नहि मे तेन हीनाया वासः स्वर्गेऽपि रोचते
I quickly set out before him as a dweller of the forest, for even residence in heaven does not please me if separated from him.
प्रागेव तु महाभागः सौमित्रिर्मित्रनन्दनः। पूर्वजस्यानुयात्रार्थे कुशचीरैरलंकृतः
But even before that, the illustrious Saumitri, delight of his friends, adorned with grass and bark, had set out to accompany his elder brother.
ते वयं भर्तुरादेशं बहुमान्य दृढव्रताः। प्रविष्टाः स्म पुरादृष्टं वनं गम्भीरदर्शनम्
We, honoring our husband's command and firm in our vows, entered the deep and awe-inspiring forest, unseen before by us.
वसतो दण्डकारण्ये तस्याहममितौजसः। रक्षसापहृता भार्या रावणेन दुरात्मना
While dwelling in the Dandaka forest with that mighty one, I, his wife, was carried off by Ravana, the wicked rakshasa.
द्वौ मासौ तेन मे कालो जीवितानुग्रहः कृतः। ऊर्ध्वं द्वाभ्यां तु मासाभ्यां ततस्त्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम्
He has granted me a period of two months to preserve my life; after those two months, I will give up my life.
thumb|चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः ॥५-
Let the thirty-fourth chapter be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Sundara Kāṇḍa.
तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा हनूमान् हरिपुंगवः। दुःखाद् दुःखाभिभूतायाः सान्त्वमुत्तरमब्रवीत्
Hearing her words, Hanumān, the foremost of the monkeys, spoke words of comfort in reply to her, who was overwhelmed by sorrow.
अहं रामस्य संदेशाद् देवि दूतस्तवागतः। वैदेहि कुशली रामः स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्
O lady, I have come to you as a messenger on Rāma's behalf; Vaidehī, Rāma is well, and he has enquired about your welfare.
यो ब्राह्ममस्त्रं वेदांश्च वेद वेदविदां वरः। स त्वां दाशरथी रामो देवि कौशलमब्रवीत्
He who knows the Brahma weapon and the Vedas, the best among those who know the Vedas, that son of Daśaratha, Rāma, O lady, has enquired about your welfare.
लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजा भर्तुस्तेऽनुचरः प्रियः। कृतवाञ्छोकसंतप्तः शिरसा तेऽभिवादनम्
And Lakṣmaṇa, of great energy, your dear companion, has bowed his head to you, distressed by your sorrow.
सा तयोः कुशलं देवी निशम्य नरसिंहयोः। प्रतिसंहृष्टसर्वांगी हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत्
Hearing of the well-being of those two lion-like men, the lady, with all her limbs delighted, then spoke to Hanumān.
कल्याणी बत गाथेयं लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मा। एति जीवन्तमानन्दो नरं वर्षशतादपि
Truly, this worldly saying appears to me auspicious: 'The joy of seeing a loved one alive surpasses even a hundred years.'
तयोः समागमे तस्मिन् प्रीतिरुत्पादिताद्भुता। परस्परेण चालापं विश्वस्तौ तौ प्रचक्रतुः
In that meeting of the two, a wonderful joy arose; and the two, trusting each other, engaged in conversation.
तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। सीतायाः शोकतप्तायाः समीपमुपचक्रमे
Hearing her words, Hanumān, son of the Wind, approached the grief-stricken Sītā.
यथा यथा समीपं स हनूमानुपसर्पति। तथा तथा रावणं सा तं सीता परिशङ्कते
As Hanumān drew nearer and nearer, Sītā suspected him more and more to be Rāvaṇa in disguise.
अहो धिग् धिक्कृतमिदं कथितं हि यदस्य मे। रूपान्तरमुपागम्य स एवायं हि रावणः
Alas, shame on me for having spoken thus! For, having assumed another form, this must indeed be Rāvaṇa.
तामशोकस्य शाखां तु विमुक्त्वा शोककर्शिता। तस्यामेवानवद्याङ्गी धरण्यां समुपाविशत्
Leaving the branch of the aśoka tree, worn down by grief, she, flawless in form, sat down right there on the ground.
अवन्दत महाबाहुस्ततस्तां जनकात्मजाम्। सा चैनं भयसंत्रस्ता भूयो नैनमुदैक्षत
Then the mighty-armed one bowed to the daughter of Janaka; but she, terrified by fear, did not look at him again.
तं दृष्ट्वा वन्दमानं च सीता शशिनिभानना। अब्रवीद् दीर्घमुच्छ्वस्य वानरं मधुरस्वरा
Seeing him bowing, Sītā, whose face was like the moon, spoke to the monkey in a sweet voice, after a deep sigh.