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.
अन्तरिक्षे च भूमौ च सर्वे स्थावरजङ्गमाः । दानवाश्च महाकायाः पाताले पन्नगाधिपाः ।। ७.९७.
All beings, both immobile and mobile, in the sky and on earth, the mighty-bodied demons, and the serpent lords in the netherworld,
केचिद्विनेदुः संहृष्टाः केचिद्ध्यानपरायणाः । केचिद्रामं निरीक्षन्ते केचित्सीतामचेतनाः ।। ७.९७.
Some rejoiced and sang out, some were absorbed in meditation, some gazed at Rama, and some were stunned, looking at Sita.
सीताप्रवेशनं दृष्ट्वा तेषामासीत्समागमः । तन्मुहूर्तमिवात्यर्थं समं सम्मोहितं जगत् ।। ७.९७.
Witnessing Sita’s entry, they all gathered together; for that moment, the entire world was utterly bewildered.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तनवतितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the ninety-seventh chapter in the glorious Uttarakanda of the venerable Ramayana, the first epic composed by the sage Valmiki.
रसातलं प्रविष्टायां वैदेह्यां सर्ववानराः । चुक्रुशुः साधु साध्वीति मुनयो रामसन्निधौ ।। ७.९८.
When Vaidehi entered the netherworld, all the monkeys cried out, 'Well done, well done!' and the sages, in Rama’s presence, did likewise.
दण्डकाष्ठमवष्टभ्य बाष्पव्याकुलितेक्षणः । अवाक्छिरा दीनमना रामो ह्यासीत्सुदुःखितः ।। ७.९८.
Clutching a staff, his eyes clouded with tears, head bowed, and mind dejected, Rama sat in great sorrow.
स रुदित्वा चिरं कालं बहुशो बाष्पमुत्सृजन् । क्रोधशोकसमाविष्टो रामो वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ७.९८.
He wept for a long time, shedding many tears, and overwhelmed by anger and grief, Rama spoke these words:
अभूतपूर्वं शोकं मे मनः स्प्रष्टुमिवेच्छति । पश्यतो मे यथा नष्टा सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी ।। ७.९८.
An unprecedented sorrow seems to touch my mind, as I see Sita lost before me, like fortune itself vanishing.
सा ऽदर्शनं पुरा सीता लङ्कापारे महोदधेः । ततश्चापि मयानीता किं पुनर्वसुधातलात् ।। ७.९८.
Once, Sita was hidden from sight across the great ocean in Lanka; then I brought her back—how could she now vanish from the earth?
वसुधे देवि भवति सीता निर्यात्यतां मम । दर्शयिष्यामि वा रोषं यथा मामवगच्छसि ।। ७.९८.
O goddess Earth, let Sita return to me, or I will show you my wrath so you may understand who I am.