सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः
Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha
यथामांशुद्धचरितांदुष्टांजानातिराघवः ।तथालोकस्यसाक्षीमांसर्वतःपातुपावकः ।।।।
yathā māṃ śuddhacaritāṃ duṣṭāṃ jānāti rāghavaḥ | tathā lokasya sākṣī māṃ sarvataḥ pātu pāvakaḥ || 6.119.26 ||
หากพระราฆวะทรงทราบว่าข้าพเจ้ามีความประพฤติบริสุทธิ์ มิได้เศร้าหมองเป็นคนชั่ว ขอปาวกะ—สักขีพยานแห่งโลก—จงคุ้มครองข้าพเจ้าทั่วทุกแห่งหน
"If in Rama's view, I am of impeccable conduct and so also if what he is seeing is not known to be true, let the world witness and fire god protect me."
Moral character (ācāra) is central to dharma: Sītā frames the ordeal as a confirmation of śuddha-caritra (purity of conduct) under the gaze of the world and Agni.
Sītā continues her oath, asserting her unimpeachable conduct and seeking divine protection as proof.
Integrity of conduct—purity not only claimed but offered for public verification.