इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे पञ्चनवतितमः सर्ग
Thus ends the ninety-fifth sarga in the glorious Uttarakanda of the ancient and revered Ramayana composed by the sage Valmiki.
तस्यां रजन्यां व्युष्टायां यज्ञवाटगतो नृपः । ऋषीन्सर्वान्महातेजाः शब्दापयति राघवः ।। ७.९६.
When that night had passed, the radiant Raghava went to the sacrificial enclosure and summoned all the sages.
वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च जाबालिरथ काश्यपः । विश्वामित्रो दीर्घतपा दुर्वासाश्च महातपाः ।। ७.९६.
Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Jabali, Kashyapa, Vishvamitra, Dirghatapa, and the great ascetic Durvasa came.
पुलस्त्यो ऽपि तथा शक्तिर्भार्गवश्चैव वामनः । मार्कण्डेयश्च दीर्घायुर्मौद्गल्यश्च महायशाः ।। ७.९६.
Pulastya, Shakti, the descendant of Bhrigu, Vamana, Markandeya the long-lived, and the illustrious Maudgalya also arrived.
गर्गश्च च्यवनश्चैव शतानन्दश्च धर्मवित् । भरद्वाजश्च तेजस्वी ह्यग्निपुत्रश्च सुप्रभः ।। ७.९६.
Garga, Chyavana, Shatananda the knower of dharma, the radiant Bharadvaja, and Suprabha, son of Agni, were present.
नारदः पर्वतश्चैव गौतमश्च महायशाः । कात्यायनः सुयज्ञश्च ह्यगस्त्यस्तपसां निधिः ।। ७.९६.
Narada, Parvata, the illustrious Gautama, Katyayana, Suyajna, and Agastya, the treasury of austerity, came as well.
एते चान्ये च बहवो मुनयः संशितव्रताः । कौतूहलसमाविष्टाः सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.९६.
And many other sages of firm vows, filled with curiosity, all assembled there.
राक्षसाश्च महावीर्या वानराश्च महाबलाः । सर्व एव समाजग्मुर्महात्मानः कुतूहलात् ।। ७.९६.
Mighty Rakshasas and powerful Vanaras, all of great soul, also came together out of curiosity.
क्षत्रिया ये च शूद्राश्च वैश्याश्चैव सहस्रशः । नानादेशगताश्चैव ब्राह्मणाः संशितव्रताः ।। ७.९६.
Thousands of Kshatriyas, Shudras, and Vaishyas, and Brahmins of firm vows from various regions, gathered as well.
ज्ञाननिष्ठाः कर्मनिष्ठाः योगनिष्ठास्तथापरे । सीताशपथवीक्षार्थं सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.९६.
Those devoted to knowledge, those devoted to action, and others devoted to yoga—all assembled to witness Sita's oath.
तदा समागतं सर्वमश्मभूतमिवाचलम् । श्रुत्वा मुनिवरस्तूर्णं ससीतः समुपागमत् ।। ७.९६.
Hearing that all had gathered, unmoving like a mountain of stone, the eminent sage quickly arrived with Sita.
तमृषिं पृष्ठतः सीता त्वन्वगच्छदवाङ्मुखी । कृताञ्जलिर्बाष्पगला कृत्वा रामं मनोगतम् ।। ७.९६.
Sita followed the sage, her face turned downward, hands joined, her throat choked with tears, her mind fixed on Rama.
दृष्ट्वा श्रुतिमिवायान्तीं ब्रह्माणमनुगामिनीम् । वाल्मीकेः पृष्ठतः सीतां साधुवादो महानभूत् ।। ७.९६.
Seeing Sita coming behind Valmiki, like the Veda following Brahma, a great wave of approval arose.
ततो हलहलाशब्दः सर्वेषामेवमाबभौ । दुःखजन्मविशालेन शोकेनाकुलितात्मनाम् ।। ७.९६.
Then a tumultuous sound arose among them all, as their hearts were agitated by the great sorrow of this painful event.
साधु रामेति केचित्तु साधु सीतेति चापरे । उभावेव च तत्रान्ये प्रेक्षकाः सम्प्रचुक्रुशुः ।। ७.९६.
Some cried out, 'Well done, Rāma!' while others exclaimed, 'Well done, Sītā!' and yet others among the onlookers shouted for both.
ततो मध्ये जनौघस्य प्रविश्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । सीतासहायो वाल्मीकिरिति होवाच राघवम् ।। ७.९६.
Then, entering the midst of the gathered people, the eminent sage Vālmīki, accompanied by Sītā, spoke to Rāghava.
इयं दाशरथे सीता सुव्रता धर्मचारिणी । अपवादैः परित्यक्ता ममाश्रमसमीपतः ।। ७.९६.
O son of Daśaratha, this Sītā, steadfast in her vows and devoted to righteousness, was abandoned near my hermitage because of slander.
लोकापवादभीतस्य तव राम महाव्रत । प्रत्ययं दास्यते सीता तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ।। ७.९६.
O Rāma, great in vows, Sītā, who fears public reproach, will provide you with proof; you should permit her to do so.
इमौ तु जानकीपुत्रावुभौ च यमजातकौ । सुतौ तवैव दुर्धर्षौ सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ।। ७.९६.
And these two sons of Jānakī, both born of you, are indeed your own mighty sons; I speak the truth to you.
प्रचेतसो ऽहं दशमः पुत्रो राघवनन्दन । न स्मराम्यनृतं वाक्यमिमौ तु तव पुत्रकौ ।। ७.९६.
O joy of the Raghus, I am the tenth son of Pracetas; I do not recall ever speaking a false word—these two are your sons.
बहुवर्षसहस्राणि तपश्चर्या मया कृता । नोपाश्नीयां फलं तस्या दुष्टेयं यदि मैथिली ।। ७.९६.
For many thousands of years I have performed austerities; may I not obtain the fruit of that if Maithilī is impure.
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा भूतपूर्वं न किल्बिषम् । तस्याः फलमुपाश्नीयामपापा मैथिली यदि ।। ७.९६.
If Maithilī is without sin in mind, deed, or word, as in the past, may I receive the fruit of my penance.
अहं पञ्चसु भूतेषु मनष्षष्ठेषु राघव । विचिन्त्य सीतां शुद्धेति जग्राह वननिर्झरे ।। ७.९६.
O Rāghava, having considered Sītā with the five elements and the mind as the sixth, I found her pure at the forest stream.
इयं शुद्धसमाचारा अपापा पतिदेवता । लोकापवादभीतस्य प्रत्ययं तव दास्यति ।। ७.९६.
She is pure in conduct, sinless, and devoted to her husband; she will give you proof, as you fear public reproach.
तस्मादियं नरवरात्मज शुद्धभावा दिव्येन दृष्टिविषयेण तदा प्रविष्टा । लोकापवादकलुषीकृतचेतसा या त्यक्ता त्वया प्रियतमा विदिता ऽपि शुद्धा ।। ७.९६.
Therefore, O son of the best of men, she, pure in heart, entered then into the divine vision; though you abandoned your dearest, Sītā, out of fear of public blame, she is known to be pure.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे षण्णवतितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the ninety-sixth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
वाल्मीकिनैवमुक्तस्तु राघवः प्रत्यभाषत । प्राञ्जलिर्जगतो मध्ये दृष्ट्वा तां वरवर्णिनीम् ।। ७.९७.
Thus addressed by Vālmīki, Rāghava replied, with joined palms, gazing at that radiant lady in the midst of the assembly.
एवमेतन्महाभाग यथा वदसि धर्मवित् । प्रत्ययस्तु मम ब्रह्मंस्तव वाक्यैरकल्मषैः ।। ७.९७.
So it is, O noble one, as you say, knower of dharma; your pure words have given me assurance, O Brāhmaṇa.
प्रत्ययस्तु पुरा वृत्तो वैदेह्याः सुरसन्निधौ । शपथस्तु कृतस्तत्र तेन वेश्म प्रवेशिता । लोकापवादो बलवान्येन त्यक्ता हि मैथिली ।। ७.९७.
Assurance was already given before, in the presence of the gods, by Vaidehī; she took an oath there and was then brought into my house. But the force of public slander caused me to abandon Maithilī.
सेयं लोकभयाद्ब्रह्मन्नपापेत्यभिजानता । परित्यक्ता मया सीता तद्भावन्क्षन्तुमर्हति ।। ७.९७.
O Brāhmaṇa, knowing her to be sinless, I abandoned Sītā out of fear of public censure; may you forgive me for that.