Yuddha KandaSarga 11825 Verses

Sarga 118

सीताप्रत्याख्यानम् / Rama’s Post-Victory Address to Sītā (Public Opinion and Royal Duty)

युद्धकाण्ड

Sarga 118 stages a post-war, public-facing dialogue in which Rāma, after observing Sītā standing near him, chooses to voice the anger and anxiety held within his heart (6.118.1). He first frames the campaign as the completion of a human duty: the insult has been wiped away by killing Rāvaṇa, vows are fulfilled, and allies’ efforts—Hanumān’s ocean-leap and Laṅkā devastation, Sugrīva’s counsel and military labor, and Vibhīṣaṇa’s defection—have become successful (6.118.2–9, 13). The discourse then pivots to rājanīti and reputation: Rāma declares that the war-labor was not undertaken ‘for Sītā’s sake’ but to protect conduct and the fame of his lineage from scandal and obloquy (6.118.15–16). He articulates a conflict between private affection and fear of public speech (janavāda), describing his heart as divided (6.118.11). In a harsh rationale, he cites the perceived impropriety of accepting a wife who lived in another’s house and who was seen with lustful eyes, concluding that she may go wherever she wishes—even suggesting alternative protectors (Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, Śatrughna, Sugrīva, Vibhīṣaṇa) (6.118.18–23). Sītā’s response is primarily affective in this excerpt: she becomes tear-filled, trembling, likened to a creeper struck by an elephant, indicating the psychological violence of public repudiation after physical rescue (6.118.10, 25).

Shlokas

Verse 6.118.1

तांतुपाश्वस्थितांप्रह्वांरामस्सम्प्रेक्ष्यमैथिलीम् ।हृदयान्तर्गतंक्रोधव्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे ।।6.118.1।।

Seeing Maithilī standing near him, modest and bowed, Rāma began to give voice to the anger that lay hidden within his heart.

Verse 6.118.2

एषासिनिर्जिताभद्रेशत्रुंजित्वारणाजिरे ।पौरुषाद्यदनुष्ठेयंमयैतदुपपादितम् ।।6.118.2।।

You were tormented in Rāvaṇa’s embrace and looked upon with wicked eyes; how could I take you back again while claiming a great lineage?

Verse 6.118.3

गतोऽस्म्यन्तममर्षस्यधर्षणासम्प्रमार्जिता ।अवमानश्चशत्रुश्चयुगपन्निहतौमया ।।6.118.3।।

When you were left alone and carried off by that fickle-minded Rākṣasa, the calamity wrought by fate has now been overcome—by me, a mere man.

Verse 6.118.4

अद्यमेपौरुषंदृष्टमद्यमेसफल्श्रमः ।अद्यतीर्णप्रतिज्ञोऽत्वाप्रभवाम्यद्यचात्मनः ।।6.118.4।।

If one does not, by one’s own strength, wipe away the insult that has befallen him, what use is even great prowess to a man of petty mind?

Verse 6.118.5

यात्वंविरहितानीताचलचित्तेनरक्षसा ।दैवसम्पादितोदोषोमानुषेणमयाजितः ।।6.118.5।।

Hanumān’s leap across the ocean and his crushing of Laṅkā have today borne fruit, and his deed is worthy of praise.

Verse 6.118.6

सम्प्राप्तमवमानंयस्तेजसा न प्रमार्जति ।कस्तस्यपुरुषार्थोमहताप्यल्पचेतसः ।।6.118.6।।

In battle, through valor and likewise through sound counsel, Sugrīva and his army have today found their exertions crowned with success.

Verse 6.118.7

लङ्घनं च समुद्रस्यलङ्कायाश्चापिमर्धनम् ।सफलंतस्य च श्लाघ्यमद्यकर्महनूमतः ।।6.118.7।।

So too, Vibhīṣaṇa’s exertion has today borne fruit—he who, abandoning his brother bereft of virtue, came to me of his own accord.

Verse 6.118.8

युद्धेविक्रमतश्चैवहितंमन्त्रयतस्तथा ।सुग्रीवस्यससैन्यस्यसफलोऽद्यपरिश्रमः ।।6.118.8।।

Surely, Sītā, once Rāvaṇa had seen you—radiant in divine form and charming—he could not have endured keeping you for long within his own house.

Verse 6.118.9

विभीषणस्य च तथासफलोऽद्यपरिश्रमः । विगुणंभ्रातरंत्यक्त्वायोमांस्वयमुपस्थितः ।।6.118.9।।

So too, today Vibhīṣaṇa’s effort has borne fruit: abandoning his brother, bereft of virtue, he came of his own accord to seek refuge with me.

Verse 6.118.10

इत्येवंवदत्श्रुत्वासीतारामस्यतद्वचः ।मृगीवोत्फुल्लनयनाबभूवाश्रुपरिप्लुता ।।6.118.10।।

Hearing those words as Rāma spoke thus, Sītā’s eyes—wide like a doe’s—filled with tears and overflowed.

Verse 6.118.11

पश्यतस्तांतुरामस्यसमीपेहृदयप्रियाम् ।जनवादभयाद्राज्ञोबभूवहृदयंद्विधा ।।6.118.11।।

Even as Rāma looked upon her—so dear to his heart, standing close—fear of public talk split the king’s heart in two.

Verse 6.118.12

सीतामुत्पलपत्राक्षींनीलकुञ्चितमूर्थजाम् ।अवदद्वैवरारोहंमध्येवानररक्षसाम् ।।6.118.12।।

In the midst of Vānaras and Rākṣasas, Rāma spoke to Sītā—lotus-petaled in eyes, dark-curled in hair, and graceful in form—his words heavy with a strained heart.

Verse 6.118.13

यत्कर्तव्यंमनुष्येणधर्षणांप्रतिमार्जता ।तत्कृतंरावणंहत्वामयेदंमानकाङ्क्षिणा ।।6.118.13।।

What a man must do to wipe away dishonor—that has been done: I have slain Rāvaṇa, driven by the need to restore honor.

Verse 6.118.14

निर्जिताजीवलोकस्यतपसाभावितात्मना ।अगस्त्येनदुराधर्षामुनिनादक्षिणेवधिक् ।।6.118.14।।

For the world of mortals, the southern quarter is hard to overcome; yet the sage Agastya—mastered in spirit and strengthened by austerity—conquered it. So too have I prevailed.

Verse 6.118.15

विदितश्चास्तुभत्रंतेयोऽयंरणपरिश्रमः ।सुतीर्णःसुहृदांवीर्यान्नत्वदर्थंमयाकृतः ।।6.118.15।।रक्षतातुमयावृत्तपमवादं च सर्वतः ।प्रख्यातस्यात्मवंशस्यव्यङ्ग्यं च परिमार्जता ।।6.118.16।।

Sītā—be it known to you, and may good befall you: this toil of war, successfully carried through by the valor of my loyal friends, was not undertaken by me for your sake.

Verse 6.118.16

Rather, I acted to safeguard proper conduct and to ward off scandal from every side—cleansing the taint that could fall upon my renowned lineage.

Verse 6.118.17

प्राप्तचारित्रसन्देहाममप्रतिमुखेस्थिता ।दीपोनेत्रातुरस्येवप्रतिकूलासिमेदृढम् ।।6.118.17।।

With doubt cast upon your chastity, standing before me now, you feel to me like a bright lamp to one whose eyes are diseased—painful and, in truth, unbearable.

Verse 6.118.18

तद्गच्छत्वानुजानेऽद्ययथेष्टंजनकात्मजे ।एतादशदिशोभद्रेकार्यमस्ति न मेत्वया ।।6.118.18।।

Therefore go—today I grant you leave, O daughter of Janaka, to go wherever you wish, in whatever direction. Auspicious one, I have no further claim upon you.

Verse 6.118.19

कःपुमांस्तुकुलेजातस्स्त्रयंपरगृहाषिताम् ।तेजस्वीपुनरादद्यात्सुहृल्लेख्येनचेतसा ।।6.118.19।।

What illustrious man, born in a noble line, would knowingly take back a woman who has dwelt in another man’s house—especially when friends themselves would judge him for it?

Verse 6.118.20

रावणाङ्कपरिक्लिष्टांदृष्टांदुष्टेनचक्षुषा ।कथंत्वापुनरादद्यांकुलंव्यपदिशन् महत् ।।6.118.20।।

For that purpose alone you have been won back by me, and my honor retrieved. I have no attachment to you now—go from here wherever you wish.

Verse 6.118.21

तदर्थंनिर्जितामेत्वंयशःप्रत्याहृतंमया ।नास्तिमेत्यय्यभिष्वङ्गोयथेष्टंगम्यतामितः ।।6.118.21।।

Auspicious one, this has been spoken by me today with deliberation. Set your mind as you please—toward Lakṣmaṇa, or else toward Bharata—where you think you will find well-being.

Verse 6.118.22

तदद्यव्याहृतंभद्रेमयैतत् कृतबुधदिना ।लक्ष्मणेनाथभरतेकुरुबुधदिंयथासुखम् ।।6.118.22।।

O Sītā, set your mind on dwelling with Śatrughna, or with Sugrīva, or even among the Rākṣasas with Vibhīṣaṇa—wherever you yourself would find ease and peace.

Verse 6.118.23

शत्रुघ्नेवाथसुग्रीवेराक्षसेवाविभीषणे ।निवेशयमनस्सीतेयथावासुखमात्मनः ।।6.118.23।।

O Sītā, set your mind on Śatrughna, or on Sugrīva, or on the Rākṣasa Vibhīṣaṇa—or wherever your own happiness may lie.

Verse 6.118.24

न हित्वांरावणोदृष्टवादिव्यरूपांमनोरमाम् ।मर्षयेतचिरंसीतेस्वगृहेपर्यवस्थिताम् ।।6.118.24।।

I have brought my pent-up indignation to its end; the outrage has been wiped away. In a single stroke, I destroyed at once both the insult and the enemy who caused it.

Verse 6.118.25

Today my valor stands proven; today my toil has borne fruit. Today I have fulfilled my vow, and today I am master of myself—and of my purpose concerning you.