अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं (Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation)
युद्धकाण्ड
This sarga presents a juridical-theological closure to the war narrative through witnessed testimony. After Brahmā’s address, Agni (Vibhāvasu/Havyavāhana/Pāvaka), as “loka-sākṣī” (world-witness), rises from the fire bearing Vaidehī and returns her to Rāma in radiant, unaltered form. Agni formally declares her sinlessness and fidelity in speech, mind, intellect, and even glance, describing her captivity under rākṣasī surveillance, temptations, and threats without deviation from devotion to Rāma. Rāma then articulates the ethical logic of public credibility: though Sītā is known to be pure across the three worlds, her long residence in Rāvaṇa’s inner apartments could trigger social suspicion; therefore, for the conviction of the three worlds (loka-pratyaya) he allowed the fire-entry, not from personal doubt. He affirms Sītā’s inviolability—likened to a flame inaccessible even in thought to the wicked—and asserts he cannot renounce her any more than one can abandon one’s own fame or self. The chapter closes with Rāma accepting counsel, being praised, and enjoying rightful happiness reunited with his wife.
Verse 6.121.1
एतच्छ्रुत्वाशुभंवाक्यंपितामहसमीरितम् ।अङ्केनादायवैदेहिमुत्पपातविभावसुः ।।।।
Hearing those auspicious words spoken by the Grand-sire Brahmā, Vibhāvasu—Agni—sprang forth, lifting Vaidehī in his arms.
Verse 6.121.2
नविधूयाथचितांतांतुवैदेहींहव्यवाहनः ।उत्तस्थौमूर्तिमानाशुगृहीत्वाजनकात्मजाम् ।।।।
Auspicious Sītā would not care for any splendor in Rāvaṇa’s inner palace; she is inseparable from me, as radiance is from the sun.
Verse 6.121.3
तरुणादित्यसङ्काशंतप्तकाञ्चनभूषणाम् ।रक्ताम्बरधरांबालांसीलकुञ्चितमूर्थजाम् ।।।।अक्लिष्टमाल्याभरणांतथारूपामनिन्दिताम् ।ददौरामायवैदेहीमङ्केकृत्वाविभावसुः ।।।।
This woman was carried off by Rāvaṇa, the rākṣasa intoxicated with his own might; separated from you, helpless and distressed, she was taken from the lonely forest.
Verse 6.121.4
तरुणादित्यसङ्काशंतप्तकाञ्चनभूषणाम् ।रक्ताम्बरधरांबालांसीलकुञ्चितमूर्थजाम् ।।6.121.3।।अक्लिष्टमाल्याभरणांतथारूपामनिन्दिताम् ।ददौरामायवैदेहीमङ्केकृत्वाविभावसुः ।।6.121.4।।
Confined and hidden within the inner apartments, her mind fixed on you and devoted to you alone, she was kept under guard by rākṣasī women—terrible, with terrible intentions.
Verse 6.121.5
अब्रवीत्तुतदारामंसाक्षीलोकस्यपावकः ।एषातेराम वैदेहीपापमस्यां न विद्यते ।।।।
Though tempted in many ways and threatened as well, Maithilī—her inmost self fixed upon you—did not give her mind to that rākṣasa at all.
Verse 6.121.6
नैववाचा न मनसानैवबुद्ध्या न चक्षुषा ।सुवृत्तावृत्तशौण्डीरन त्वामत्यचरच्छुभा ।।।।
Maithilī, Janaka’s daughter, is pure in all the three worlds. I cannot abandon her—just as a self-possessed man cannot abandon his own fame.
Verse 6.121.7
रावणेनापनीतैषावीर्योसतिक्तेनरक्षसा ।त्वयाविरहितादीनाविवशानिर्जनाद्वनात् ।।।।
And I must indeed act upon your beneficial words—words spoken for good—by you affectionate ones, leaders worthy of the world’s respect.
Verse 6.121.8
रुद्धाचान्तःपुरेगुप्तात्वच्छित्तात्वत्परायणा ।रक्षिताराक्षसीभिश्चघोराभिर्घोरबुद्धिभिः ।।।।
Thus, victorious and mighty, Rāma—illustrious and praised for his own deeds—was reunited with his beloved; and, being worthy of happiness, he experienced happiness.
Verse 6.121.9
प्रलोभ्यमानाविविधंभर्त्स्यमाना च मैथिली ।नाचिन्तयततद्रक्षस्त्वद्गतेनान्तरात्मना ।।।।
Though tempted in various ways and threatened as well, Maithilī (Sītā) gave no thought to that rākṣasa, for her inmost soul was fixed solely on you.
Verse 6.121.10
विशुद्धभावांनिष्पापांप्रतिगृह्णीष्वमैथिलीम् ।न किञ्चिरभिधातव्याअहमाज्ञापयामिते ।।।।
Accept Maithilī again: her inmost being is pure and she is without sin. You are not to utter any reply—I command you.
Verse 6.121.11
ततःप्रीतिमानारामःश्रुत्यैवंवदतांवरः ।दध्यौमुहूर्तंधर्मात्माबाष्पव्याकुललोचनः ।।।।
Then the Fire-god, without scattering that funeral pyre, quickly rose in embodied form, taking Vaidehī—Janaka’s daughter—in his hands.
Verse 6.121.12
एवमुक्तोमहातेजाधृतिमान्दृढविक्रमः ।उवाचत्रिदशश्रेष्ठंरामोधर्मभृतांवरः ।।।।
Then righteous Rāma—best among speakers—hearing those words, rejoiced within; yet with eyes troubled by tears, he reflected for a moment.
Verse 6.121.13
अवश्यंत्रिषुलोकेषु न सीतापापमर्हति ।दीर्घकालोषिताहीयंरावणान्तःपुरेशुभा ।।।।
Thus addressed, Rāma—radiant, steadfast, and firm in valor, supreme among upholders of dharma—spoke to the foremost of the gods.
Verse 6.121.14
बालिशोखलुकामात्मारामोदशरथात्मजः ।इतिवक्ष्यन्तिमांसन्तोजानकीमविशोध्यहि ।।।।
Surely, throughout the three worlds it is known that auspicious Sītā is not guilty of sin; yet she did dwell for a long time within Rāvaṇa’s inner chambers.
Verse 6.121.15
अनन्यहृदयांभक्तांमच्चित्तपरिवर्तिनीम् ।अहमप्यवगच्छामिमैथिलींजनकात्मजाम् ।।।।
‘Rāma, Daśaratha’s son, is surely foolish—ruled by desire’: thus, people would speak of me, if I were to accept Jānakī without testing her purity.
Verse 6.121.16
इमामपिविशालाक्षींरक्षितांस्वेनतेजसा ।रावणोनातिवर्तेतवेलामिवमहोदधिः ।।।।
I too know Maithilī, Janaka’s daughter—devoted, with an undivided heart, ever turning her mind toward me alone.
Verse 6.121.17
प्रत्ययार्थंतुलोकानांत्रयाणांसत्यसंश्रयः ।उपेक्षेचापिवैदेहींप्रविशन्तींहुताशनम् ।।।।
Even this wide-eyed lady, protected by her own radiance—Rāvaṇa could not overstep her, just as the great ocean cannot cross its shore-boundary.
Verse 6.121.18
न हिशक्तःसुदुष्टात्मामनसापिहिमैथिलीम् ।प्रधर्षयितुमप्राप्यांदीप्तामग्निशिखामिव ।।।।
But for the sake of convincing the three worlds—since I rest upon truth—I even stood by as Vaidehī entered the fire.
Verse 6.121.19
नेयमर्हतिचैश्वर्यंरावणान्तःपुरेशुभा ।अनन्याहिमयासीताभास्करेणप्रभायथा ।।।।
That utterly wicked one was not able—even in thought—to violate Maithilī, unapproachable, blazing like a tongue of fire.
Verse 6.121.20
विशुद्धात्रिषुलोकेषुमैथिलीजनकात्मजा ।न विहातुंमयाशक्याकीर्तिरात्ववतायथा ।।।।
Blazing like the young rising sun, adorned with refined gold ornaments, clad in red garments, youthful, with dark curling hair—wearing unsoiled garlands and ornaments, and appearing just as before—the blameless Vaidehī was taken into Agni’s arms and then given back to Rāma.
Verse 6.121.21
अवश्यं च मयाकार्यंसर्वेषांवोवचोहितम् ।स्निग्धानांलोकनाधानामेवं च वदतांहितम् ।।।।
Then Pāvaka, the Fire-god—witness for the world—spoke to Rāma: “Here is your Vaidehī, O Rāma; in her there is no sin.”
Verse 6.121.22
इत्येवम्विजयीमहाबलःप्रशस्यमानःस्वकृतेनकर्मणा ।समेत्यरामःप्रिययामहायशाःसुखंसुखार्होऽनुबभूवराघवः ।।।।
“Neither by speech, nor by mind, nor by understanding, nor even by her gaze did the auspicious and well-conducted Sītā transgress against you, O hero steadfast in righteous conduct.”