Shloka 34
सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः
Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha
प्रचुक्रुशुःस्त्रियःसर्वास्तांदृष्टवाहव्यवाहवे ।।।।पतन्तींसंस्कृतांमन्रन्स्सैर्वसोर्दारामिवाध्वरे ।
pracukruśuḥ striyaḥ sarvās tāṃ dṛṣṭvā havyavāhave |
patantīṃ saṃskṛtāṃ mantrair vasor dhārām ivādhvare ||
Toutes les femmes poussèrent des cris en la voyant tomber dans le feu porteur des offrandes, comme un flot continu de ghee dans un sacrifice, sanctifié par les 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.
FAQs
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.