Shloka 19
चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः
Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing
कालिन्दीमध्यमायाता सीता त्वेनामवन्दत।स्वस्ति देवि तरामि त्वां पारये न्मे पतिर्व्रतम्।।।।यक्ष्ये त्वां गोसहस्रेण सुराघटशतेन च।स्वस्ति प्रत्यागते रामे पुरी मिक्ष्वाकुपालिताम्।।।।
kālindīmadhyamāyātā sītā tv enām avandata | svasti devi tarāmi tvāṃ pārayen me patir vratam ||
jakṣye tvāṃ gosahasreṇa surāghaṭaśatena ca | svasti pratyāgate rāme purīm ikṣvākupālitām ||
Tatkala sampai ke tengah arus Kāliṇdī (Yamunā), Sītā menunduk menyembah dewi sungai itu, lalu berkata: “Sejahteralah, wahai Devī; aku sedang menyeberangimu—semoga nazar suamiku terlaksana. Apabila Rāma kembali dengan selamat ke Ayodhyā, kota yang dipelihara keturunan Ikṣvāku, aku akan memuja engkau dengan seribu ekor lembu dan seratus tempayan surā.”
Seeing them setting forth, the great sage blessed them for a safe journey and followed them like a father following his children.
FAQs
Dharma is shown as reverence joined to accountability: Sītā prays for safe passage and binds herself to a future act of worship if the desired outcome occurs—linking faith with truthful commitment.
Midway through crossing the Yamunā, Sītā offers salutations and makes a conditional vow of offerings upon Rāma’s safe return to Ayodhyā.
Pativratā-nisthā (steadfast devotion to her husband’s righteous path) and satya-saṅkalpa (truthful resolve to keep a vow).