Shloka 50
सावित्री-यमसंवादः
Sāvitrī’s Dialogue with Yama and the Restoration of Satyavān
इस तरह कठोर वचनोंद्वारा डराने-धमकानेवाली उन राक्षसियोंसे बार-बार डरायी जाती हुई सीता पतिवियोगके शोकसे संतप्त हो लंबी साँसें खींचती हुई बोलीं-- ।। आर्या: खादत मां शीघ्रं न मे लोभो5स्ति जीविते । विना तं पुण्डरीकाक्षं नीलकुज्चितमूर्थधजम्
āryāḥ khādata māṃ śīghraṃ na me lobho 'sti jīvite | vinā taṃ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ nīlakuñcitamūrdhajam ||
Markandeya said: Thus, repeatedly terrified by those rākṣasī women who tried to cow her with harsh threats, Sītā—burning with grief at separation from her husband—drew long sighs and spoke: “Noble ladies, devour me at once; I have no desire to live. For without him, the lotus-eyed one with dark, curling hair, life holds no attraction for me.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights unwavering marital fidelity and moral steadfastness: Sītā refuses to value life apart from dharma and her rightful bond, showing that coercion and fear cannot compel a virtuous person to abandon inner commitment.
In Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration, Sītā is repeatedly threatened by rākṣasī women. Overwhelmed by sorrow at separation from Rāma, she sighs deeply and declares she has no wish to live without him, even inviting them to kill her rather than break her resolve.