Shloka 16
सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः
Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha
न प्रमाणीकृतंपाणिर्भाल्येममनिपीडितः ।ममभक्तिश्चशीलं च सर्वंतेपृष्ठतःकृतम् ।।।।
na pramāṇīkṛtaṁ pāṇir bālye mama nipīḍitaḥ |
mama bhaktiś ca śīlaṁ ca sarvaṁ te pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtam ||
Apakah genggaman tanganmu pada tanganku ketika muda dahulu—tidak engkau anggap sebagai tanda ikatan yang sah? Adakah bhakti-ku, akhlakku, dan segala yang kupegang dalam hidup ini engkau singkirkan ke belakang?
"When in my young age you held my hand as a mark of acceptance (in our marriage), has it not been considered by you? Has my devotion, character and chastity not been taken into account?"
FAQs
Dharma as fidelity to vows: marital commitment (pāṇigrahaṇa) is invoked as moral proof, along with the lived evidence of devotion and conduct.
Sītā reminds Rāma of their marriage bond and her consistent virtue, questioning why these are not treated as sufficient testimony.
Bhakti and śīla: steadfast devotion and exemplary character sustained over time.