शत्रुघ्ने वाथ सुग्रीवे राक्षसे वा विभीषणे। निवेशय मनः सीते यथा वा सुखमात्मना
Or on Shatrughna, or Sugriva, or the rakshasa Vibhishana; place your mind, Sita, wherever you find happiness.
नहि त्वां रावणो दृष्ट्वा दिव्यरूपां मनोरमाम्। मर्षयेत चिरं सीते स्वगृहे पर्यवस्थिताम्
For surely, seeing you, O Sītā, possessing a divine and enchanting form, Rāvaṇa could not have long endured your presence in his house.
ततः प्रियार्हश्रवणा तदप्रियं प्रियादुपश्रुत्य चिरस्य मानिनी। मुमोच बाष्पं रुदती तदा भृशं गजेन्द्रहस्ताभिहतेव वल्लरी
Then, hearing those harsh words, so unworthy for beloved ears, and learning of this sorrow after so long, the proud lady wept bitterly, like a vine struck by the trunk of a lordly elephant.
thumb|षोडशाधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे षोडशाधिकशततमः सर्गः ॥६-
Hear now the one hundred sixteenth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa.
एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही परुषं रोमहर्षणम्। राघवेण सरोषेण श्रुत्वा प्रव्यथिताभवत्
Thus addressed with harsh and hair-raising words by Rāghava, spoken in anger, Vaidehī became deeply distressed upon hearing them.
सा तदाश्रुतपूर्वं हि जने महति मैथिली। श्रुत्वा भर्तुर्वचो घोरं लज्जयावनताभवत्
For never before had Maithilī heard such dreadful words from her husband in the presence of a great assembly, and she became bowed down with shame.
प्रविशन्तीव गात्राणि स्वानि सा जनकात्मजा। वाक्शरैस्तैः सशल्येव भृशमश्रूण्यवर्तयत्
It was as if the daughter of Janaka's limbs were withdrawing into themselves; wounded by those words, she could hardly restrain her tears.
ततो बाष्पपरिक्लिन्नं प्रमार्जन्ती स्वमाननम्। शनैर्गद्गदया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्
Then, wiping her face, which was wet with tears, she slowly spoke to her husband in a broken, faltering voice.
किं मामसदृशं वाक्यमीदृशं श्रोत्रदारुणम्। रूक्षं श्रावयसे वीर प्राकृतः प्राकृतामिव
Why do you, O hero, speak such harsh and painful words to me, as if you were an ordinary man addressing an ordinary woman?
न तथास्मि महाबाहो यथा मामवगच्छसि। प्रत्ययं गच्छ मे स्वेन चारित्रेणैव ते शपे
I am not as you think me to be, mighty-armed one; trust in my own character—I swear to you by it.
पृथक्स्त्रीणां प्रचारेण जातिं त्वं परिशङ्कसे। परित्यजैनां शङ्कां तु यदि तेऽहं परीक्षिता
Because of the conduct of other women, you suspect my nature; but if you have tested me, then cast aside this doubt.
यदहं गात्रसंस्पर्शं गतास्मि विवशा प्रभो। कामकारो न मे तत्र दैवं तत्रापराध्यति
O lord, when I was forced into another's touch, it was not by my own will; in that, fate alone is at fault, not I.
मदधीनं तु यत् तन्मे हृदयं त्वयि वर्तते। पराधीनेषु गात्रेषु किं करिष्याम्यनीश्वरी
But my heart, which is under my control, remains fixed on you; what can I, powerless, do regarding limbs under another's control?
सह संवृद्धभावेन संसर्गेण च मानद। यदि तेऽहं न विज्ञाता हता तेनास्मि शाश्वतम्
If, despite our long union and intimacy, you do not know me, then I am truly lost forever.
प्रेषितस्ते महावीरो हनुमानवलोककः। लङ्कास्थाहं त्वया राजन् किं तदा न विसर्जिता
You sent the mighty Hanumān to see me; when I was in Laṅkā, O king, why did you not release me then?
प्रत्यक्षं वानरस्यास्य तद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम्। त्वया संत्यक्तया वीर त्यक्तं स्याज्जीवितं मया
If, after the monkey's direct report, you had abandoned me, O hero, then I would have given up my life.
न वृथा ते श्रमोऽयं स्यात् संशये न्यस्य जीवितम्। सुहृज्जनपरिक्लेशो न चायं विफलस्तव
Then your effort would not have been in vain, for I would have staked my life on this doubt; nor would the suffering of your friends have been fruitless.
त्वया तु नृपशार्दूल रोषमेवानुवर्तता। लघुनेव मनुष्येण स्त्रीत्वमेव पुरस्कृतम्
But you, tiger among kings, have only followed anger, and, like an ordinary man, have placed my womanhood at the forefront.
अपदेशेन जनकान्नोत्पत्तिर्वसुधातलात्। मम वृत्तं च वृत्तज्ञ बहु ते न पुरस्कृतम्
You have disregarded my origin from Janaka and the earth, and, though you know my conduct well, you have not given it due weight.
न प्रमाणीकृतः पाणिर्बाल्ये मम निपीडितः। मम भक्तिश्च शीलं च सर्वं ते पृष्ठतः कृतम्
My hand was not properly joined in marriage, I was oppressed in my childhood; my devotion and character—all that has been set aside by you.
इति ब्रुवन्ती रुदती बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी। उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता दीनं ध्यानपरायणम्
Thus speaking, weeping, her voice choked with tears, Sita addressed Lakshmana, who was dejected and absorbed in thought.
चितां मे कुरु सौमित्रे व्यसनस्यास्य भेषजम्। मिथ्यापवादोपहता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे
Build a funeral pyre for me, O Saumitri; it is the remedy for this calamity. Struck by false accusation, I am unable to go on living.
अप्रीतेन गुणैर्भर्त्रा त्यक्ताया जनसंसदि। या क्षमा मे गतिर्गन्तुं प्रवेक्ष्ये हव्यवाहनम्
Abandoned publicly by my husband, who is displeased with my virtues, what other path remains for me? I will enter the blazing fire.
एवमुक्तस्तु वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। अमर्षवशमापन्नो राघवं समुदैक्षत
Hearing Vaidehi speak thus, Lakshmana, slayer of enemies, overcome by anger, looked intently at Raghava.
स विज्ञाय मनश्छन्दं रामस्याकारसूचितम्। चितां चकार सौमित्रिर्मते रामस्य वीर्यवान्
Perceiving Rama’s intention, indicated by his expression, the valiant son of Sumitra built the pyre according to Rama’s will.
नहि रामं तदा कश्चित् कालान्तकयमोपमम्। अनुनेतुमथो वक्तुं द्रष्टुं वाप्यशकत् सुहृत्
At that time, no friend was able to console, address, or even look upon Rama, who resembled Death at the end of time and stood unapproachable.
अधोमुखं स्थितं रामं ततः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। उपावर्तत वैदेही दीप्यमानं हुताशनम्
Then, after circumambulating Rama, who stood with head bowed, Vaidehi approached the blazing fire.
प्रणम्य दैवतेभ्यश्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च मैथिली। बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा चेदमुवाचाग्निसमीपतः
Maithili, with hands joined in reverence, bowed to the gods and to the Brahmins, and spoke these words near the fire.
यथा मे हृदयं नित्यं नापसर्पति राघवात्। तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः
As my heart has never turned away from Raghava, so may Agni, the witness of all, protect me on every side.
यथा मां शुद्धचारित्रां दुष्टां जानाति राघवः। तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः
As Raghava wrongly regards me, who am pure in conduct, as tainted, so may Agni, the witness of all, protect me on every side.