Shloka 19
सीताया वनगमननिश्चयः
Sita’s Resolve to Accompany Rama to the Forest
एवमस्मात्स्वकां नारीं सुवृत्तां हि पतिव्रताम्।नाभिरोचयसे नेतुं त्वं मां केनेह हेतुना।।।।
evam asmāt svakāṃ nārīṃ suvṛttāṃ hi pativratām | nābhirocayase netuṃ tvaṃ māṃ keneha hetunā ||
అయితే నీవు నీ స్వకీయ భార్యనైన, సదాచారిణి పతివ్రతనైన నన్ను ఇక్కడి నుండి తీసికొనిపోవడానికి ఎందుకు అంగీకరించవు? ఇప్పుడు దీనికి కారణమేంటి?
Understand that the difficulties of forest life described by you will be turned into advantages if they are accompanied by your affection.
FAQs
Dharma here is framed as rightful shared duty: a devoted spouse should not be excluded from the partner’s righteous path, especially when that path is chosen for truth and duty.
Sītā challenges Rāma’s reluctance to take her to the forest, asserting her legitimacy as his wife to accompany him.
Sītā’s courage and agency: she asserts her moral standing (suvṛtta, pativratā) as grounds for participation in hardship.