Shloka 38
सीतया लक्ष्मणप्रेषणम् — Sita urges Lakshmana to seek Rama
The crisis of the ‘distressed voice’
पिबाम्यहं विषं तीक्ष्णं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्।न त्वहं राघवादन्यं पदापि पुरुषं स्पृशे।।3.45.38।।
pibāmy ahaṁ viṣaṁ tīkṣṇaṁ pravekṣyāmi hutāśanam | na tv ahaṁ rāghavād anyaṁ padāpi puruṣaṁ spṛśe || 3.45.38 ||
ഞാൻ തീക്ഷ്ണവിഷം കുടിക്കും; അഗ്നിയിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കും. എന്നാൽ രാഘവനെ ഒഴികെ മറ്റൊരു പുരുഷനെയും—കാലുകൊണ്ടുപോലും—സ്പർശിക്കുകയില്ല.
Since you, O son of Sumitra, are not reaching out to your brother in this situation, you are an enemy to your brother in the guise of a friend৷৷
FAQs
The verse foregrounds satya and śīla as Sītā’s self-definition: unwavering fidelity to Rāma, valuing moral purity over survival.
Sītā intensifies her protest, declaring she would rather die than be associated with any man other than Rāma.
Chastity and steadfast loyalty (ananya-bhāva toward one’s rightful spouse).