सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः
Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha
नश्चसुमहांस्तत्रबालवृद्धसमाकुलः ।।।।ददर्शमैथिलींदीप्तांप्रविशन्तींहुताशनम् ।
na ca sumahān tatra bāla-vṛddha-samākulaḥ |
dadarśa maithilīṃ dīptāṃ praviśantīṃ hutāśanam ||
Di sana, lautan manusia yang besar—penuh sesak dengan yang muda dan yang tua—menyaksikan Maithilī yang bercahaya melangkah masuk ke dalam api suci.
Like freshly polished gold, like shining gold ornament, in the presence of the whole world she fell into flaming and glowing fire.
The verse underscores accountability before society: dharma in kingship and public life often plays out under communal witness, where truth is demanded and observed.
A large public gathering watches Sītā step into the fire as part of her ordeal.
Sītā’s steadfastness under public gaze—courage to face collective judgment.