Shloka 6.119.12

सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः (Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha)

Devanagari script

प्रत्यक्षंवानरस्यास्यतद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम् ।त्वयासन्त्यक्तयावीरत्यक्तंस्याजजीवितंमया ।।।।

Transliteration

pratyakṣaṁ vānarasyāsya tad-vākya-samanantaram |

tvayā santyaktayā vīra tyaktaṁ syāj jīvitaṁ mayā ||

Translation

O hero! If you had rejected me immediately after hearing that message—in the very presence of that Vānara—I would have relinquished my life then and there.

Context

"O hero! Had you given me up immediately on receiving your message from Vanara I would have given up my life in the presence of Hanuman there itself."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Hanūmān

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma as personal integrity: Sītā asserts she would not cling to life under dishonor; truth (satya) and dignity are valued above survival.

What is the narrative situation?

She argues that if rejection was inevitable, it should have occurred earlier (upon Hanūmān’s report), sparing the later public humiliation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness (dhṛti) and honor: Sītā presents herself as willing to die rather than live under false suspicion.