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.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यथा नातिचराम्यहम्। राघवं सर्वधर्मज्ञं तथा मां पातु पावकः
As I have not transgressed against Raghava, knower of all dharma, in deed, thought, or word, so may Agni protect me.
आदित्यो भगवान् वायुर्दिशश्चन्द्रस्तथैव च। अहश्चापि तथा संध्ये रात्रिश्च पृथिवी तथा। यथान्येऽपि विजानन्ति तथा चारित्रसंयुताम्
The blessed Sun, the Wind, the quarters, the Moon, Day, the twilights, Night, and the Earth—all these, as well as others, know me to be endowed with virtue.
एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही परिक्रम्य हुताशनम्। विवेश ज्वलनं दीप्तं निःशङ्केनान्तरात्मना
Having spoken thus, Vaidehi circumambulated the fire and entered the blazing flames, her heart free from doubt.
जनश्च सुमहांस्तत्र बालवृद्धसमाकुलः। ददर्श मैथिलीं दीप्तां प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम्
There, the great multitude, filled with children and elders, saw Maithili, shining, as she entered the blazing fire.
सा तप्तनवहेमाभा तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणा। पपात ज्वलनं दीप्तं सर्वलोकस्य संनिधौ
She, radiant like freshly molten gold and adorned with golden ornaments, fell into the blazing fire before all the worlds.
ददृशुस्तां विशालाक्षीं पतन्तीं हव्यवाहनम्। सीतां सर्वाणि रूपाणि रुक्मवेदिनिभां तदा
All beheld her, the wide-eyed Sita, shining like gold, as she fell into the fire, manifest in every form.
ददृशुस्तां महाभागां प्रविशन्तीं हुताशनम्। ऋषयो देवगन्धर्वा यज्ञे पूर्णाहुतीमिव
The sages and the divine Gandharvas saw that illustrious one, Sita, entering the fire as if she were a perfect offering in a sacrifice.
प्रचुक्रुशुः स्त्रियः सर्वास्तां दृष्ट्वा हव्यवाहने। पतन्तीं संस्कृतां मन्त्रैर्वसोर्धारामिवाध्वरे
All the women cried out, seeing her falling into the sacrificial fire, prepared with mantras, like a stream of clarified butter poured in a ritual.
ददृशुस्तां त्रयो लोका देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। शप्तां पतन्तीं निरये त्रिदिवाद् देवतामिव
The three worlds—gods, gandharvas, and demons—beheld her, cursed and falling into hell, as if a goddess cast down from heaven.
तस्यामग्निं विशन्त्यां तु हाहेति विपुलः स्वनः। रक्षसां वानराणां च सम्बभूवाद्भुतोपमः
As she entered the fire, a great cry arose—'Alas!'—from the rakshasas and the monkeys, wondrous and astonishing.