Shloka 5.24.12
सीताभर्त्सना — The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति।अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा।।5.24.10।।लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त्यं सुकन्या च्यवनं यथा।सावित्री सत्यवन्तं च कपिलं श्रीमती यथा।।5.24.11।।सौदासं मदयन्तीव केशिनी सगरं यथा।नैषधं दमयन्तीव भैमी पतिमनुव्रता।।5.24.12।।तथाऽहमिक्ष्वाकुवरं रामं पतिमनुव्रता।
saudāsaṃ madayantīva keśinī sagaraṃ yathā |
naiṣadhaṃ damayantīva bhaimī patim anuvratā ||5.24.12||
tathā’ham ikṣvāku-varaṃ rāmaṃ patim anuvratā |
As Keśinī was devoted to Sagara, and Madayantī to Saudāsa; as Bhīmī Damayantī, faithful to her husband, was devoted to Nala, king of Niṣadha—so too am I, a wife true to her vow, devoted to my husband Rāma, foremost of the Ikṣvākus.
'I am steadfast (in love) to my husband Rama, the foremost of the Ikshvaku family in the same manner as noble Sachi to Indra, Arundhati to Vasistha, Rohini to the Moon, Lopamudra to Agastya, Sukanya to sage Chyavana, Savitri to Satyavan, Srimati to Kapilamuni Madayanti to Soudasu, Kesini to king Sagara and Bhima's daughter Damayanti to her lord Nala, (the king of Nishadas)'.
Sītā frames her conduct as pativratā-dharma—steadfast loyalty to her husband—by aligning herself with renowned exemplars of marital fidelity, presenting her endurance in captivity as a righteous vow rather than mere emotion.
Satya appears as truthful self-testimony: Sītā publicly affirms her unwavering commitment to Rāma, making her fidelity a moral fact she stands by, consistent with the ideal that righteous speech and righteous conduct must align.