Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 121, Shloka 7
अग्निपरीक्षासाक्ष्यं
Agni’s Testimony and Sītā’s Revalidation
रावणेनापनीतैषावीर्योसतिक्तेनरक्षसा ।त्वयाविरहितादीनाविवशानिर्जनाद्वनात् ।।।।
rāvaṇenāpanītaiṣā vīryotsiktena rakṣasā |
tvayā virahitā dīnā vivaśā nirjanād vanāt ||
Ang babaeng ito’y inagaw ni Rāvaṇa, ang rākṣasa na lasing sa sariling lakas; nang siya’y mahiwalay sa iyo—walang magawa at nagdadalamhati—kinuha mula sa nag-iisang gubat.
Radiating like the rising sun, adorned with polished gold ornaments, wearing red coloured clothes, with beautiful black hair, wearing fresh flowers, being in the same young form as before, blameless Vaidehi was held in the arms of the fire god and presented to Rama.
FAQs
It distinguishes victimhood from culpability: being forcibly taken does not diminish righteousness; injustice lies with the aggressor, not the violated.
Agni recounts the circumstances of Sītā’s abduction to frame her suffering as coercion, not consent.
Sītā’s helplessness under force underscores her innocence; Rāvaṇa’s arrogance highlights adharma.