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.
यथा ऽहं राघवादन्यं मनसापि न चिन्तये । तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति ।। ७.९७.
As I do not even think of any other than Rāghava in my heart, so may the goddess Mādhavī grant me a passage.
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा यथा रामं समर्चये । तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति ।। ७.९७.
As I honor Rāma in mind, deed, and word, so may the goddess Mādhavī grant me a passage.
यथैतत्सत्यमुक्तं मे वेद्मि रामात्परं न च । तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति ।। ७.९७.
As what I have spoken is true, and I know none beyond Rāma, so may the goddess Mādhavī grant me a passage.
तथा शपन्त्यां वैदेह्यां प्रादुरासीत्तदद्भुतम् । भूतलादुत्थितं दिव्यं सिंहासनमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.९७.
As Vaidehī uttered her oath, a wondrous and extraordinary thing appeared—a divine, unsurpassed throne arose from the earth.
ध्रियमाणं शिरोभिस्तु नागैरमितविक्रमैः । दिव्यं दिव्येन वपुषा दिव्यरत्नविभूषितैः ।। ७.९७.
It was borne upon their heads by Nāgas of immeasurable might, divine in form and adorned with celestial jewels.
तस्मिंस्तु धरणी देवी बाहुभ्यां गृह्य मैथिलीम् । स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्यैनामासने चोपवेशयत् ।। ७.९७.
Then the goddess Earth, taking Maithilī by the arms, welcomed her and seated her upon the throne.
तामासनगतां दृष्ट्वा प्रविशन्तीं रसातलम् । पुष्पवृष्टिरविच्छिन्ना दिव्या सीतामवाकिरत् ।। ७.९७.
As she sat upon the throne and entered the netherworld, an unbroken shower of divine flowers rained down upon Sītā.
साधुकारश्च सुमहान्देवानां सहसोत्थितः । साधु साध्विति वै सीते यस्यास्ते शीलमीदृशम् ।। ७.९७.
A great cry of approval suddenly arose from the gods: ‘Well done, well done, O Sītā, whose character is thus!’
एवं बहुविधा वाचो ह्यन्तरिक्षगताः सुराः । व्याजह्रुर्हृष्टमनसो दृष्ट्वा सीताप्रवेशनम् ।। ७.९७.
Thus, many voices of the gods in the sky, their hearts gladdened, spoke out upon witnessing Sītā’s entry.
यज्ञवाटगताश्चापि मुनयः सर्व एव ते । राजानश्च नरव्याघ्रा विस्मयान्नोपरेमिरे ।। ७.९७.
And all the sages who had come to the sacrificial ground, as well as the kings, O tiger among men, were so astonished that they could not move.