तां तु सीता महाभागामनसूयां पतिव्रताम् । अभ्यवादयदव्यग्रा स्वनाम समुदाहरत् ।। २.११७.
Sītā, highly fortunate, greeted Anasūyā, devoted to her husband, without hesitation, and stated her own name.
अभिवाद्य च वैदेही तापसीं तामनिन्दिताम् । बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा हृष्टा पर्यपृच्छदनामयम् ।। २.११७.
Vaidehī, having respectfully greeted the blameless ascetic, with hands joined in reverence and delighted, inquired about her well-being.
तत: सीतां महाभागां दृष्ट्वा तां धर्मचारिणीम् । सान्त्वयन्त्यब्रवीद्धृष्टा दिष्ट्या धर्ममवेक्षसे ।। २.११७.
Then, seeing Sītā, the highly fortunate and righteous woman, Anasūyā spoke kindly, rejoicing, 'By fortune you observe righteousness.'
त्यक्त्वा ज्ञातिजनं सीते मानमृद्धिं च भामिनि । अवरुद्धं वने रामं दिष्ट्या त्वमनुगच्छसि ।। २.११७.
O Sītā, having abandoned your kinsfolk and honor and prosperity, you have followed Rāma, confined in the forest; by fortune you accompany him.
नगरस्थो वनस्थो वा पापो वा यदि वा शुभ: । यासां स्त्रीणां प्रियो भर्ता तासां लोका महोदया: ।। २.११७.
Whether he dwells in the city or the forest, whether he is wicked or virtuous, for those women whose husband is dear, their worlds are greatly elevated.
दु:शील: कामवृत्तो वा धनैवा परिवर्जित: । स्त्रीणामार्यस्वभावानां परमं दैवतं पति: ।। २.११७.
Whether he is of bad conduct, driven by desire, or deprived of wealth, for women of noble nature, the husband is the highest deity.
नातो विशिष्टं पश्यामि बान्धवं विमृशन्त्यहम् । सर्वत्रयोग्यं वैदेहि तप:कृतमिवाव्ययम् ।। २.११७.
I do not see any relative superior to the husband, O Vaidehī, considering carefully; everywhere he is suitable, like the inexhaustible fruit of austerity.
न त्वेनमवगच्छन्ति गुणदोषमसत्स्त्रिय: । कामवक्तव्यहृदया भर्तृनाथा श्चरन्ति या: ।। २.११७.
But ignoble women do not discern virtue or fault in him; their hearts speak only desire, and they wander, dependent on their husband.
प्राप्नुवन्त्ययशश्चैव धर्मभ्रंशं च मैथिलि । अकार्यवशमापन्ना: स्त्रियो या: खलु तद्विधा: ।। २.११७.
Women of such a kind, O Maithili, who fall under the sway of improper conduct, indeed incur disgrace and a fall from righteousness.
त्वद्विधास्तु गुणैर्युक्ता दृष्टलोकपरावरा: । स्त्रिय: स्वग चरिष्यन्ति यथा धर्मकृतस्तथा ।। २.११७.
But women like you, endowed with virtues and understanding the ways of the world, will live according to their own nature, just as those who uphold righteousness.
तदेवमेनं त्वमनुव्रता सती पतिव्रतानां समयानुवर्तिनी । भवस्व भर्त्तु: सहधर्मचारिणी यशश्च धर्मं च तत: समाप्स्यसि ।। २.११७.
Therefore, you, steadfast in devotion, following the path of the faithful wives, be a companion in righteousness to your husband; from this you will attain both honor and virtue.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तदशोत्तरशततम: सर्ग:
Thus ends the one hundred seventeenth sarga in the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
thumb|अष्टादशशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center सा त्वेवमुक्ता वैदेही त्वनसूया ऽनसूयया । प्रतिपूज्य वचो मन्दं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। २.११८.
Thus addressed by Anasūyā, Vaidehī, free from envy, honored her words and began to speak gently.
नैतदाश्चर्य्यमार्याया यन्मां त्वमनुभाषसे । विदितं तु ममाप्येतद्यथा नार्य्या: पतिर्गुरु: ।। २.११८.
It is not surprising, O noble lady, that you speak to me in this way; I too know that a husband is a woman's highest reverence.
यद्यप्येष भवेद्भर्ता ममार्ये वृत्तवर्जित: । अद्वैधमुपचर्तव्यस्तथाप्येष मया भवेत् ।। २.११८.
Even if my husband were to be without good conduct, O noble one, still he must be served by me without deviation.
किं पुनर्यो गुण: श्लाघ्य: सानुक्रोशो जितेन्द्रिय: । स्थिरानुरागो धर्मात्मा मातृवत्पितृवत्प्रिय: ।। २.११८.
How much more, then, when he is virtuous, praiseworthy, compassionate, self-controlled, steadfast in love, righteous, and dear as a mother and father?
यां वृत्तिं वर्त्तते राम: कौसल्यायां महाबल: । तामेव नृपनारीणामन्यासामपि वर्त्तते ।। २.११८.
The way mighty Rāma behaves toward Kausalyā, he behaves in the same way toward all the other royal women.
सकृद्दृष्टास्वपि स्त्रीषु नृपेण नृपवत्सल: । मातृवद्वर्त्तते वीरो मानमुत्सृज्य धर्मवित् ।। २.११८.
Even toward women whom the king has seen only once, the hero, devoted to righteousness, acts with the respect due to a mother, setting aside pride.
आगच्छन्त्याश्च विजनं वनमेवं भयावहम् । समाहितं मे श्वश्र्वा च हृदये तद्धृतं महत् ।। २.११८.
And as I came to this lonely and fearful forest, the great advice my mother-in-law gave me remains firmly in my heart.
पाणिप्रदानकाले च यत्पुरा त्वग्निसन्निधौ । अनुशिष्टा जनन्या ऽस्मि वाक्यं तदपि मे धृतम् ।। २.११८.
And the words my mother spoke to me long ago at the time of giving my hand in marriage, in the presence of fire, I have also kept in mind.
नवीकृतं च तत्सर्वं वाक्यैस्ते धर्मचारिणि । पतिशुश्रूषणान्नार्य्यास्तपो नान्यद्विधीयते ।। २.११८.
All that has been renewed in me by your words, O righteous one; for a woman, there is no greater austerity than service to her husband.
सावित्री पतिशुश्रूषां कृत्वा स्वर्गे महीयते । तथावृत्तिश्च याता त्वं पतिशुश्रूषया दिवम् ।। २.११८.
Sāvitrī, by serving her husband, is honored in heaven; and you too have attained heaven by such conduct in service to your husband.
वरिष्ठा सर्वनारीणामेषा च दिवि देवता । रोहिणी न विना चन्द्रं मुहूर्त्तमपि दृश्यते ।। २.११८.
She is the foremost among all women, a goddess in heaven; Rohiṇī is never seen apart from the Moon, even for a moment.
एवंविधाश्च प्रवरा: स्त्रियो भर्तृदृढव्रता: । देवलोके महीयन्ते पुण्येन स्वेन कर्मणा ।। २.११८.
In this way, the best women, firm in their vows to their husbands, are honored in the world of the gods by the merit of their own deeds.
ततो ऽनसूया संहृष्टा श्रुत्वोक्तं सीतया वच: । शिरस्याघ्राय चोवाच मैथिलीं हर्षयन्त्युत ।। २.११८.
Then Anasūyā, delighted after hearing Sītā's words, embraced her head and spoke to Maithilī, gladdening her.
नियमैर्विविधैराप्तं तपो हि महदस्ति मे । तत्संश्रित्य बलं सीते छन्दये त्वां शुचिस्मिते ।। २.११८.
Through various disciplines I have attained great ascetic power, O Sītā of pure smile; relying on that strength, I wish to bless you.
उपपन्नं मनोज्ञं च वचनं तव मैथिलि । प्रीता चास्म्युचितं किं ते करवाणि ब्रवीहि मे ।। २.११८.
Your words are appropriate and pleasing, Maithili. I am delighted—tell me, what fitting thing shall I do for you?
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विस्मिता मन्दविस्मया कृतमित्यब्रवीत्सीता तपोबलसमन्विताम् ।। २.११८.
Hearing her words, Sita, endowed with ascetic power, was gently astonished and said, 'It is done.'
सा त्वेवमुक्ता धर्मज्ञा तया प्रीततरा ऽभवत् । सफलं च प्रहर्षं ते हन्त सीते करोम्यहम् ।। २.११८.
Thus addressed by her, the righteous one became even more pleased and said, 'O Sita, I shall fulfill your joyful wish.'
इदं दिव्यं वरं माल्यं वस्त्रमाभरणानि च । अङ्गरागं च वैदेहि महार्हं चानुलेपनम् ।। २.११८.
Here are divine garlands, garments, ornaments, fragrant ointment, and precious unguent, O Vaidehi.