Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 10
सीताभर्त्सना
The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति।अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा।।5.24.10।।लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त्यं सुकन्या च्यवनं यथा।सावित्री सत्यवन्तं च कपिलं श्रीमती यथा।।5.24.11।।सौदासं मदयन्तीव केशिनी सगरं यथा।नैषधं दमयन्तीव भैमी पतिमनुव्रता।।5.24.12।।तथाऽहमिक्ष्वाकुवरं रामं पतिमनुव्रता।
yathā śacī mahābhāgā śakraṃ samupatiṣṭhati |
arundhatī vasiṣṭhaṃ ca rohiṇī śaśinaṃ yathā || 5.24.10 ||
lopāmudrā yathāgastyaṃ sukanyā cyavanaṃ yathā |
sāvitrī satyavantaṃ ca kapilaṃ śrīmatī yathā || 5.24.11 ||
saudāsaṃ madayantīva keśinī sagaraṃ yathā |
naiṣadhaṃ damayantīva bhaimī patim anuvratā || 5.24.12 ||
tathāham ikṣvāku-varaṃ rāmaṃ patim anuvratā |
Seperti Śacī yang mulia berbakti kepada Śakra, seperti Arundhatī kepada Vasiṣṭha, dan Rohiṇī kepada Sang Bulan; seperti Lopāmudrā kepada Agastya, Sukanyā kepada Cyavana, Sāvitrī kepada Satyavān, dan Śrīmatī kepada Kapila; seperti Madayantī kepada Saudāsa, Keśinī kepada Sagara, dan Damayantī—puteri Bhīma—yang setia kepada suaminya Nala dari Niṣadha: demikianlah aku setia mengikuti suamiku Rāma, yang terbaik dari keturunan Ikṣvāku.
'I am steadfast (in love) to my husband Rama, the foremost of the Ikshvaku family in the same manner as noble Sachi to Indra, Arundhati to Vasistha, Rohini to the Moon, Lopamudra to Agastya, Sukanya to sage Chyavana, Savitri to Satyavan, Srimati to Kapilamuni Madayanti to Soudasu, Kesini to king Sagara and Bhima's daughter Damayanti to her lord Nala, (the king of Nishadas)'.
FAQs
Sītā asserts pativratā-dharma grounded in satya: unwavering fidelity to a rightful spouse and refusal to legitimize wrongdoing, even under threat. Dharma here is constancy to truth and covenant, not submission to force.
Surrounded and threatened in Laṅkā, Sītā answers the rākṣasīs by declaring her unbreakable devotion to Rāma, citing renowned exemplars of marital fidelity.
Steadfastness (dhṛti) and truthfulness (satya) expressed as loyal commitment (anuvratā/pativratā) to Rāma despite coercion.