Shloka 3.45.24
सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama (The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’)
सुदुष्टस्त्वं वने राममेकमेकोऽनुगच्छसि।मम हेतोः प्रतिच्छन्नः प्रयुक्तोभरतेन वा।।3.45.24।।
tan na sidhyati saumitre tava vā bharatasya vā |
katham indīvaraśyāmaṃ padmapatranibhekṣaṇam || 3.45.25 ||
upasaṃśritya bhartāraṃ kāmaye yaṃ pṛthagjanam |
That purpose—whether yours or Bharata’s—will not succeed, O Saumitrī. Having taken refuge in my husband, dark as the blue lotus and lotus-petaled in his gaze, how could I desire any other man?
You are very wicked. You are hiding your true identity, and employed by Bharata, you are following Rama in the forest as he is alone.
Sītā asserts marital fidelity (pativratā-dharma) and unwavering commitment to her husband as a truth of her character.
Continuing her outburst, Sītā rejects any insinuation of disloyalty and declares she could never desire another man besides Rāma.
Constancy and chastity—Sītā’s self-understanding as unwaveringly devoted to Rāma.