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.
thumb|सप्तदशाधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे सप्तदशाधिकशततमः सर्गः ॥६-
Hear now the one hundred seventeenth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Book of War.
ततो हि दुर्मना रामः श्रुत्वैवं वदतां गिरः । दध्यौ मुहूर्तं धर्मात्मा बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः
Then, troubled in mind, Rāma, hearing those words spoken, pondered for a moment, his eyes filled with tears.
ततो वैश्रवणो राजा यमश्च पितृभिः सह । सहस्राक्षश्च देवेशो वरुणश्च जलेश्वरः
Then King Vaiśravaṇa, Yama with his ancestors, Indra the lord of the gods, and Varuṇa the lord of waters,
षडर्धनयनः श्रीमान्महादेवो वृषध्वजः । कर्ता सर्वस्य लोकस्य ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां वरः
The glorious Mahādeva, the bull-bannered, with three eyes, and Brahmā, the creator of all worlds, foremost among knowers of Brahman,
एते सर्वे समागम्य विमानैः सूर्यसन्निभैः । आगम्य नगरीं लङ्काम् अभिजग्मुश्च राघवम्
All these, assembling together, arrived in chariots shining like the sun, and came to the city of Lanka, approaching Rāghava.
ततः सहस्ताभरणान् प्रगृह्य विपुलान् भुजान् । अब्रुवंस्त्रिदशश्रैष्ठाः प्राञ्जलिं राघवं स्थितम्
Then, adorned with a thousand ornaments, bearing mighty arms, the foremost of the gods spoke to Rāghava, who stood with joined palms.
कर्ता सर्वस्य लोकस्य श्रेष्ठो ज्ञानविदां विभुः । उपेक्षसे कथं सीताम् पतन्तीं हव्यवाहने
O creator and lord of all worlds, greatest among those who know wisdom, how do you neglect Sītā as she falls into the sacrificial fire?
कथं देवगणश्रेष्ठम् आत्मानं नावबुध्यसे । ऋतधामा वसुः पूर्वम् वसूनां त्वं प्रजापतिः
How do you not recognize yourself as the foremost among the hosts of gods? You are Vasu, the upholder of truth, the ancient lord of the Vasus, the progenitor.
त्रयाणां त्वं हि लोकानाम् आदिकर्ता स्वयंप्रभु: । रुद्राणामष्टमो रुद्रः साध्यानामसि पञ्चमः । अश्विनौ चापि ते कर्णौ चन्द्रसूर्यौ च चक्षुषी
You are indeed the original creator and sovereign of the three worlds; the eighth Rudra among the Rudras, the fifth among the Sādhyas; the Ashvins are your ears, the moon and sun your eyes.
अन्ते चादौ च लोकानाम् दृश्यसे त्वं परन्तप । उपेक्षसे च वैदेहीम् मानुषः प्राकृतो यथा
At the end and at the beginning of worlds, you are seen, O scorcher of foes; yet you disregard Vaidehī as if you were an ordinary mortal.