Agni Pariksha:
Thus Spoke Sita*

(3 min read)

Sita’s Anguish

‘Sita’s Anguish’, my previous blog, dealt with Rama’s public announcement of abandonment of Sita. What did Sita say before entering the fire?

After the trauma of abduction by Ravana, incarceration in Lanka, and the painful separation from her beloved husband and god, Sita was delighted to see Rama, and her eyes, large like a fawn’s, lit up in anticipation of their joyful reunion. But she was crushed by Rama’s words: Your character is in doubt. You are of no use to me. Go wherever you wish. Consider, if it pleases you, to live with Lakshmana, Bharata, Sugriva or Vibhishana.

Rama’s harsh words in the public assembly pierced Sita like arrows. She bent down with shame, and her eyes welled up with tears. Though overwhelmed with grief and indignation, she spoke softly, slowly, and haltingly.

Sita’s Questions

Sita asked Rama four questions:

· Why are you talking like a low, common man to a common woman?
· My heart which is under my control is unwaveringly devoted to you; why do you blame me for the (demon’s) touch when my body was under captivity?
· After these long years of togetherness how could you not comprehend or feel my love, loyalty, and devotion to you?
· Why didn’t you convey your decision to abandon me when you sent Hanuman to meet me at Lanka after your victory?

Sita’s Assertions

Sita also made seven assertions:

· I am NOT what you take me to be. I swear on my character!
· Based on the conduct of a few women, you’re condemning all women.
· I did NOT willingly allow him (Ravana) to touch my body.
· Had you conveyed your decision to abandon me through Hanuman, I would have promptly given up my life then and there.
· Ruled by rage, and considering me a mere woman, you’re speaking like a common man.
· I am not only Janaki, I am also Earth’s Daughter. Despite full knowledge of my conduct and character, this is the rich reward you’ve given me!
· You’ve turned your back on your marriage vow, and have ignored my devotion, and chaste character.

Rama’s Response

Did Rama reply to Sita’s questions? Did he accept her assertions, her proclamation, or her explanation?

Rama kept silent. When Sita slowly and reverently circumambulated Rama with folded palms, his face was downcast.

Sita: Not Meek

How does Valmiki portray Sita’s character? She is an ideal wife who sacrificed the comforts of the royal palace and chose to suffer all the hardships which her husband suffered as an exiled prince. Rama had insisted that she should stay back in Ayodhya, but she had made her own decision and had prevailed upon Rama to accept it by adducing several sound and irrefutable arguments. She was pativrata, but a thinking wife with the welfare of her husband foremost in her heart and mind, and had no hesitation in reprimanding Rama when he was unreasonable.

Since her heart was fixed firmly on Rama, she had spurned Ravana’s offer to make her his Chief Consort. She had stoically suffered the threats and insults by the rakshasi guards, but had refused to budge from her loyalty to Rama.

After his victory, when Rama humiliated her in public and announced her abandonment; she was terribly hurt. She walked into the fire, but not before pouring out her heart and speaking her mind.

She spoke softly and slowly, but she was eloquent. She was dignified yet defiant. She was respectful, yet repudiated Rama’s false charges. She was unfailingly polite, and said not a word that might humiliate or hurt Rama; but she offered thoughtful and forceful arguments to tear apart Rama’s unsound, inappropriate, and unfair decision.

Rama did NOT demand agni pariksha!

It was Sita who decided to walk into the fire, not content with merely asking soul-searching questions, and proclaiming her unimpeachable character. Rama had merely announced abandonment of Sita, and had ‘permitted’ her to go wherever she chose and live with whomsoever she fancied; Rama had not demanded the test-by-fire.

It was Sita’s decision to walk into the fire. That is the only remedy for this affliction, she told Lakshmana, and asked him to build a pyre. Of course, Rama did not restrain Sita from the agni pariksha, and thus consented to the horrendous act.

(Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons - Agni pariksha.jpg; Unknown Author; 1820 CE.)

Sita, the Sati Didn’t Curse Rama

Sita was a Sati, and had the power to curse, but she was too much in love with Rama to use her power. Once Lakshmi had cursed Vishnu, and His head had fallen off, and Hayagriva had materialised. Lakshmi had also once cursed Jagannatha and Balabhadra to be beggars. Gandhari had cursed Krishna to die alone and helpless. But those are other stories.

Sita: No Ordinary Woman!

Sita was pure, chaste, and a devoted wife. She was honourable, confident, and decisive. She was defiant, and declined to accept and suffer the false slander and the baseless suspicion of her husband. She also taunted Rama: O one who knows all, how could you not know of my deep and firm love for you?

For Sita was none other than Lakshmi!

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Disclaimer*

This piece is based on Valmiki Ramayana Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, M.S. University, Baroda, Ed by P.L. Vaidya, 1971 (Yuddha Kanda – Sarga 104). Some readers may have read non-Critical versions of Valmiki’s Ramayana, or other regional Ramayanas, and may find that the details given in this piece vary marginally or significantly from their recall of the scene and story. This author is not suggesting that the other versions are inferior or unreliable, only that this is how Sita spoke in Valmiki Ramayana (Critical Edition). Which version or view is valid? This author has no opinion on the matter. A reader is free to accept or discard a version as per her belief-system.

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Resources & References:

1. The Valmiki Ramayana, Critical Edition, Ed. P.L. Vaidya (1971), Oriental Institute, M.S. University, Baroda.

2. The Valmiki Ramayana, Bibek Debroy, Penguin Random House India Private Limited. Kindle Edition (English Prose Translation of the Critical Edition)

3. The Ramayana of Valmiki, The Complete English Translation of the Critical Edition, by Robert P. Goldman, Sally J. Sutherland Goldman, Rosalind Lefeber, Sheldon I. Pollock, and Barend A. van Nooten

4. Valmiki Ramayana Recitation with lyrics by Jayashree-Gopal Krishnapriya, You Tube (https://youtu.be/v630jmfcfFA)

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Books by the Author

P.K. Dash has published the following books:

Short story collections:

Tell A Tale and Other Stories

Invisible Poet and Other Stories

The Mysterious Ladies and Other Stories

Fiction

Kathapur Tales

Essays

Pink Diamond and Other Essays

Self-Help

How To Be an Author in 7 Days: A Beginner’s Guide to Self- Publishing

Story books for children:

Cave of Joy: Anand Gufa

Two Tales, Three Tellers: A Fairytale & A Fable

Poetry

RIVER SONG and Other Poems

Songs of Soil: Selected Poems of an Unschooled Bard: Padma Shri Haladhar Nag

O Krishna, O Son! Yashoda’s Sublime Song of Sorrow

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Note: Print copies of these books, except Pink Diamond and Other Essays, are available at amazon.in, notionpress.com, and flipkart.com. Ebooks are available at Amazon Kindle.

Prasanna Dash