Shloka 9
सीताया अग्निप्रवेशः
Sita’s Ordeal by Fire / Agni-Pariksha
मदधीनंतुयत्तन्मेहृदयंत्वयिवर्तते ।पराधीनेषुगात्रेषुकिंकरिष्याम्यनीश्वरी ।।।।
mad-adhīnaṃ tu yat tan me hṛdayaṃ tvayi vartate | parādhīneṣu gātreṣu kiṃ kariṣyāmy anīśvarī ||
لیکن جو میرے اختیار میں ہے—میرا دل—وہ تو آپ ہی میں قائم ہے؛ جب میرے اعضا دوسروں کے قبضے میں ہوں تو میں، بے اختیار ہو کر، کیا کر سکتی ہوں؟
"That mind which is under my control is my heart and it abides in you. What can I do about my limbs when I am at others' mercy?"
FAQs
Dharma recognizes the primacy of inner intention and steadfastness (hṛdaya-niṣṭhā) when the body is constrained; judgement must consider freedom and consent.
Sītā concludes her argument by separating inner devotion to Rāma from the externally controlled condition of her body during captivity.
Steadfast loyalty and self-knowledge—Sītā asserts unwavering inner commitment despite external coercion.