Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 2
अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा
Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative
नैतदाश्चर्यमार्याया यन्मां त्वमभिभाषसे। विदितन्तु ममाप्येतद्यथा नार्याः पतिर्गुरुः।।2.118.2।।
naitad āścaryam āryāyā yan māṃ tvam abhibhāṣase |
viditaṃ tu mamāpy etad yathā nāryāḥ patir guruḥ ||2.118.2||
Il n’est pas étonnant qu’une noble dame me parle ainsi. Moi aussi je le sais bien : pour une femme, son époux doit être vénéré comme un guru.
O princess of Videha, O Sita, I bestow on you this best garland of the gods, raiment, jewellery, fragrant unguents, and precious ointment for anointing your body with. All this will beautify your limbs. It is convenient (to use) and will never fade.
FAQs
Marital dharma expressed as reverence and loyalty: Sītā affirms the ideal of honoring one’s spouse as a guiding authority.
Sītā responds to Anasūyā’s counsel, acknowledging that such instruction is fitting and aligns with what she already knows.
Sītā’s steadfast commitment to duty (maryādā) and her respectful receptivity to wise guidance.