सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः
Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha
नश्चसुमहांस्तत्रबालवृद्धसमाकुलः ।।।।ददर्शमैथिलींदीप्तांप्रविशन्तींहुताशनम् ।
na ca sumahān tatra bāla-vṛddha-samākulaḥ |
dadarśa maithilīṃ dīptāṃ praviśantīṃ hutāśanam ||
Там, среди великого множества — теснившихся юных и старых, — все увидели, как Майтхили входит в пылающий огонь.
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.