Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 29, Shloka 21
सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः
Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest
ययदि मां दुःखितामेवं वनं नेतुं न चेच्छसि।विषमग्निं जलं वाऽहमास्थास्ये मृत्युकारणात्।।।।
yadi māṃ duḥkhitām evaṃ vanaṃ netuṃ na cecchasi | viṣam agniṃ jalaṃ vā 'ham āsthāsye mṛtyu-kāraṇāt ||
ਜੇ ਤੂੰ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੁਖੀ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਜੰਗਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈ ਜਾਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ, ਤਾਂ ਮੌਤ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਣ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਮੈਂ ਵਿਸ਼, ਅੱਗ ਜਾਂ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਆਸਰਾ ਲਵਾਂਗੀ।
Despite Sita's pleadings with him in various ways the mighty-armed Rama would not consent to take her to the desolate forest.
FAQs
It dramatizes the perceived inseparability of marital duty; however, ethically it also shows the tension between dharma and extreme emotional resolve, highlighting how dharmic ideals can be invoked under distress.
After repeated refusals, Sītā makes a drastic declaration to compel Rāma to accept her as a companion in exile.
Unyielding commitment (dṛḍha-niścaya), though expressed through a severe ultimatum born of grief and fear of separation.