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.
जानामि चेमौ पुत्रौ मे यमजातौ कुशीलवौ । शुद्धायां जगतो मध्ये मैथिल्यां प्रीतिरस्तु मे ।। ७.९७.
I know these two sons of mine, Kuśa and Lava, born of Yama's lineage; in the midst of the world, let my affection be with Maithilī, who is pure.
अभिप्रायं तु विज्ञाय रामस्य सुरसत्तमाः । सीतायाः शपथे तस्मिन् महेन्द्राद्या महौजसः ।। ७.९७.
Perceiving Rāma’s intention, the foremost of the gods, beginning with Mahendra and possessed of great might, gathered for Sītā’s oath.
पितामहं पुरस्कृत्य सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.९७.
All of them assembled together, having the Grandsire at their head.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा ह्यश्विनौ समरुद्गणाः । गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.९७.
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, the Aśvins with the hosts of Maruts, as well as the Gandharvas and Apsarases—all of them gathered together.
साध्याश्च विश्वेदेवाश्च सर्वे च परमर्षयः । नागाः सुपर्णाः सिद्धाश्च ते सर्वे हृष्टमानसाः । सीताशपथसम्भ्रान्ताः सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.९७.
The Sādhyas, Viśvadevas, all the supreme sages, Nāgas, Suparṇas, and Siddhas—all these, their minds delighted yet anxious about Sītā’s oath, assembled together.
दृष्ट्वा देवानृषींश्चैव राघवः पुनरब्रवीत् । प्रत्ययो मे नरश्रेष्ठा ऋषिवाक्यैरकल्मषैः ।। ७.९७.
Seeing the gods and sages, Rāghava spoke again: ‘O best of men, I am convinced by the pure words of the sages.’
शुद्धायां जगतो मध्ये वैदेह्यां प्रीतिरस्तु मे ।। ७.९७.
May my affection for Vaidehī, pure in the midst of the world, remain.
ततो वायुः शुभः पुण्यो दिव्यगन्धो मनोरमः । तज्जनौघं सुरश्रेष्ठो ह्लादयामास सर्वतः ।। ७.९७.
Then a pure, auspicious, and delightful wind, carrying a divine fragrance, gladdened that entire assembly of gods everywhere.
तदद्भुतमिवाचिन्त्यं निरैक्षन्त समागताः । मानवाः सर्वराष्ट्रेभ्यः पूर्वं कृतयुगे यथा ।। ७.९७.
All the people gathered there gazed upon that marvelous and inconceivable event, as men did in the Kṛta age of old, from every kingdom.
सर्वान्समागतान्दृष्ट्वा सीता काषायवासिनी । अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमधोदृष्टिरवाङ्मुखी ।। ७.९७.
Seeing all those assembled, Sītā, clad in ochre robes, with joined palms, her gaze lowered and face turned down, spoke these words.