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.
मया दत्तमिदं सीते तव गात्राणि शोभयेत् । अनुरूपमसंक्लिष्टं नित्यमेव भविष्यति ।। २.११८.
O Sita, these gifts I bestow upon you will adorn your limbs; they are fitting, unblemished, and will remain so always.
अङ्गरागेण दिव्येन लिप्ताङ्गी जनकात्मजे । शोभयिष्यसि भर्त्तारं यथा श्रीविष्णुमव्ययम् ।। २.११८.
Anointed with this divine ointment, O daughter of Janaka, you will shine upon your husband as Lakshmi does upon the imperishable Vishnu.
सा वस्त्रमङ्गरागं च भूषणानि स्रजस्तथा । मैथिली प्रतिजग्राह प्रीतिदानमनुत्तमम् ।। २.११८.
Maithili accepted the garments, ointment, ornaments, and garlands—an unsurpassed gift of affection.
प्रतिगृह्य च तत् सीता प्रीतिदानं यशस्विनी । श्लिष्टाञ्जलिपुटा तत्र समुपास्त तपोधनाम् ।। २.११८.
Having received that gift of affection, illustrious Sita stood there with joined palms, reverently attending upon the ascetic lady.
तथा सीतासुपासीनामनसूया दृढव्रता । वचनं प्रष्टुमारेभे काञ्चित् प्रियकथामनु ।। २.११८.
As Sita sat thus in attendance, Anasuya, firm in her vows, began to ask her, following a pleasing topic.
स्वयंवरे किल प्राप्ता त्वमनेन यशस्विना । राघवेणेति मे सीते कथा श्रुतिमुपागता ।। २.११८.
O Sita, I have heard the story that you were won by this illustrious Raghava in a svayamvara.
तां कथां श्रोतुमिच्छामि विस्तरेण च मैथिलि । यथानुभूतं कार्त्स्न्येन तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ।। २.११८.
Maithili, I wish to hear that story in detail; please recount it to me fully, just as you experienced it.
एवमुक्ता तु सा सीता तां ततो धर्मचारिणीम् । श्रूयतामिति चोक्त्वा वै कथयामास तां कथाम् ।। २.११८.
Thus addressed, Sita then said to the righteous lady, 'Listen,' and began to tell that story.
मिथिलाधिपतिर्वीरो जनको नाम धर्मवित् । क्षत्रधर्मे ह्यभिरतो न्यायत: शास्ति मेदिनीम् ।। २.११८.
The valiant ruler of Mithila, named Janaka, was devoted to righteousness and governed the land according to the warrior's code and justice.
तस्य लाङ्गलहस्तस्य कर्षत: क्षेत्रमण्डलम् । अहं किलोत्थिता भित्त्वा जगतीं नृपते: सुता ।। २.११८.
As he was ploughing a field with his own hands, it is said that I, the king's daughter, arose breaking through the earth.