Shloka 30
सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः
Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha
नश्चसुमहांस्तत्रबालवृद्धसमाकुलः ।।।।ददर्शमैथिलींदीप्तांप्रविशन्तींहुताशनम् ।
na ca sumahān tatra bāla-vṛddha-samākulaḥ |
dadarśa maithilīṃ dīptāṃ praviśantīṃ hutāśanam ||
Dort, vor einer gewaltigen Menge, in der Junge und Alte dicht gedrängt standen, sah man Maithilī in das lodernde Feuer eintreten.
Like freshly polished gold, like shining gold ornament, in the presence of the whole world she fell into flaming and glowing fire.
FAQs
The verse underscores accountability before society: dharma in kingship and public life often plays out under communal witness, where truth is demanded and observed.
A large public gathering watches Sītā step into the fire as part of her ordeal.
Sītā’s steadfastness under public gaze—courage to face collective judgment.