Character

Sita

सीताSītā

verses
5,196
books
28
chapters
683
Consort of
Rama

What the texts say

In the Ramayana, Sita is the daughter of King Janaka of Mithila, and she arose from the earth when a ploughshare struck the field. Ramayana 5.16.15 The epic's opening summary tells of the breaking of the great bow and her marriage to Rama, calling her Janaki, one of her names. Ramayana 1.3.11 When Rama spoke of going to the forest, Sita insisted on following him. Ramayana 2.34.23 Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, carried her weeping to his city of Lanka. Ramayana 3.54.5 Hanuman, who reached Lanka, saw her sorrowing among the rakshasis in the Ashoka grove, and the summary adds a ring given as a token. Ramayana 5.2.14, 5.17.23, 1.3.30 After Rama spoke harshly of her in the assembly, Sita entered the blazing fire. Ramayana 1.1.82 The Devi Bhagavatam tells that later the daughter of the Earth entered Patala, splitting the earth open. Devi Bhagavatam 4.18.57

Where to read

Every verse that names Sita, book by book.

  1. Ramayana

    3,322 verses · 307 chapters

    All 3,322 verses in the Ramayana
    • 5.35.6

      O Vaidehī, lotus-petaled-eyed one—though you already know your husband’s and Lakṣmaṇa’s appearance and marks, it is by good fortune that you ask me to describe them.

    • 5.37.21

      O Maithilī, today I will deliver you to Rāghava who waits on Prasravaṇa—just as the sacred fire conveys offerings to Śakra (Indra).

    • 5.38.1

      Then the tiger among monkeys—skilled in speech—pleased by her words, after hearing them, spoke to Sītā.

  2. Ramcharitmanas

    444 verses · 86 chapters

    All 444 verses in the Ramcharitmanas
    • 1.24.488

      One clever companion took courage, caught Sita by the hand, and spoke to her. "You can meditate on Gauri afterwards; why not look now at the young princes?" Then Sita, shyly, opened her eyes and saw the two lions of the Raghu line standing…

    • 2.11.211

      Then the Lord of the Raghu line bathed, worshipped the earthen Shiva-linga, and bowed his head. Sita folded her hands and said to the heavenly river: "O Mother, fulfil my desire. Let me return in safety with my husband and his brother, and…

    • 1.23.478

      Two princes have come to see the garden, young in age and lovely in every way. One is dark and the other fair; how can I describe them? Speech has no eyes, and the eyes have no tongue. Hearing this, all the clever friends were delighted…

  3. Padma Purana

    380 verses · 59 chapters

    All 380 verses in the Padma Purana
    • 6.242.102

      Placing upon her chest a garland of unfading lotuses, the lovely, fair-limbed one appeared at Sītā’s face, assuming the innocence of a little child.

    • 5.66.8

      When you abandoned blameless Jānakī in the forest, she—pregnant—kept lamenting again and again in that dreadful wilderness.

    • 5.59.1

      Śeṣa said: Then Lakṣmaṇa, having disembarked from the boat and (having crossed) the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), took Jānakī by the hand on the far bank and went into the forest.

  4. Skanda Purana

    251 verses · 68 chapters

    All 251 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 6.1.20.1

      Sūta said: There, Rāma, son of Daśaratha—consecrated for life in the forest—was wandering upon the earth, accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.

    • 5.1.31.12

      Formerly, Rāma came from Citrakūṭa, accompanied by Maithilī (Sītā) and Lakṣmaṇa, and questioned the best of sages.

    • 3.2.35.9

      Rāma, the knower of dharma, went together with Sītā, preceded by his guru and his forces; accompanied by his brother Lakṣmaṇa, and with Bharata as his supporter.

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Sita matters most.

  1. Description of Rama and Lakshmana; Alliance Narrative to Sita

    Ramayana 5.35 · 85 verses

    Primary examiner and recipient of pramāṇa

  2. Hanuman’s Offer of Rescue and Sita’s Dharmic Refusal

    Ramayana 5.37 · 66 verses

    Moral and strategic arbiter

  3. The Token of Recognition (Chūḍāmaṇi) and the Crow Episode Recalled

    Ramayana 5.38 · 64 verses

    Provides authentication through intimate shared memory

  4. The Signet Jewel as Proof and the Consolation of Sita

    Ramayana 5.39 · 53 verses

    Giver of abhijñāna (recognition-token) and moral instructor

  5. Sita’s Lament and Prophecy of Lanka’s Ruin

    Ramayana 5.26 · 49 verses

    Sole primary speaker

  6. The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity

    Ramayana 5.24 · 44 verses

    Central moral voice

  7. सीतारावणसंवादः · Ravana Reveals Himself; Sita Affirms Rama’s Dharma

    Ramayana 3.47 · 38 verses

  8. The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’

    Ramayana 3.45 · 37 verses

    Catalyst of the crisis: interprets the forest-cry as Rāma’s…

  9. The Lament at Jatāyu and the Abduction of Sītā

    Ramayana 3.52 · 36 verses

    Primary sufferer and moral center

  10. Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

    Ramayana 5.21 · 34 verses

Key episodes

  1. Shurpanakha at Panchavati

    Ramayana 3.17-3.18

  2. The Golden Deer

    Ramayana 3.42-3.44

  3. Ravana Carries Off Sita

    Ramayana 3.45-3.56

  4. Jatayu Fights Ravana

    Ramayana 3.50-3.68

  5. Hanuman Finds Sita in the Ashoka Grove

    Ramayana 5.14-5.40

  6. Hanuman Burns Lanka

    Ramayana 5.53-5.55

  7. Sita's Ordeal by Fire (Agni Pariksha)

    Ramayana 6.118-6.121

  8. Rama's Return to Ayodhya

    Ramayana 6.124-6.131

  9. Rama and Sita in the Flower Garden (Pushpavatika)

    Ramcharitmanas 1.23-1.24

  10. The Boatman Washes Rama's Feet (Kevat)

    Ramcharitmanas 2.11

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q191114