Shloka 6.119.35
सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः (Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha)
ददृशुस्तांत्रयोलोकादेवगन्धर्वदानवाः ।।।।शस्तांपतन्तींनिरयेत्रिविवाद्धेवतामिव ।
pracukruśuḥ striyaḥ sarvās tāṃ dṛṣṭvā havyavāhave |
patantīṃ saṃskṛtāṃ mantrair vasor dhārām ivādhvare ||
All the women cried out on seeing her fall into the oblation-bearing fire, as though she were a steady stream of ghee in a sacrifice, sanctified by mantras.
All the Devas, Gandharvas and Danavas of the three worlds who witnessed her falling, extolled her as if goddess was falling from heaven into hell.
Dharma includes empathy: even when a trial is framed as righteous, the human community responds with compassion to suffering.
The assembled women react emotionally, crying out as Sītā falls into the fire.
Communal compassion—others’ immediate sorrow underscores the gravity of Sītā’s ordeal and the value of her person.