Shloka 12
सीताभर्त्सना
The Ogresses’ Threats to Sita and Her Vow of Fidelity
यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति।अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा।।5.24.10।।लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त्यं सुकन्या च्यवनं यथा।सावित्री सत्यवन्तं च कपिलं श्रीमती यथा।।5.24.11।।सौदासं मदयन्तीव केशिनी सगरं यथा।नैषधं दमयन्तीव भैमी पतिमनुव्रता।।5.24.12।।तथाऽहमिक्ष्वाकुवरं रामं पतिमनुव्रता।
yathā śacī mahābhāgā śakraṃ samupatiṣṭhati |
arundhatī vasiṣṭhaṃ ca rohiṇī śaśinaṃ yathā || 5.24.10 ||
lopāmudrā yathāgastyaṃ sukanyā cyavanaṃ yathā |
sāvitrī satyavantaṃ ca kapilaṃ śrīmatī yathā || 5.24.11 ||
saudāsaṃ madayantīva keśinī sagaraṃ yathā |
naiṣadhaṃ damayantīva bhaimī patim anuvratā || 5.24.12 ||
tathāham ikṣvāku-varaṃ rāmaṃ patim anuvratā |
Như Śacī cao quý phụng sự Śakra, như Arundhatī đối với Vasiṣṭha, như Rohiṇī đối với vầng Nguyệt; như Lopāmudrā đối với Agastya, như Sukanyā đối với Cyavana, như Sāvitrī đối với Satyavān, như Śrīmatī đối với Kapila; như Madayantī đối với Saudāsa, như Keśinī đối với Sagara, như Damayantī—ái nữ của Bhīma—một lòng theo chồng Nala xứ Niṣadha: cũng vậy, ta một lòng theo chồng là Rāma, bậc tối thượng của dòng Ikṣvāku.
'I am steadfast (in love) to my husband Rama, the foremost of the Ikshvaku family in the same manner as noble Sachi to Indra, Arundhati to Vasistha, Rohini to the Moon, Lopamudra to Agastya, Sukanya to sage Chyavana, Savitri to Satyavan, Srimati to Kapilamuni Madayanti to Soudasu, Kesini to king Sagara and Bhima's daughter Damayanti to her lord Nala, (the king of Nishadas)'.
FAQs
Sītā asserts pativratā-dharma grounded in satya: unwavering fidelity to a rightful spouse and refusal to legitimize wrongdoing, even under threat. Dharma here is constancy to truth and covenant, not submission to force.
Surrounded and threatened in Laṅkā, Sītā answers the rākṣasīs by declaring her unbreakable devotion to Rāma, citing renowned exemplars of marital fidelity.
Steadfastness (dhṛti) and truthfulness (satya) expressed as loyal commitment (anuvratā/pativratā) to Rāma despite coercion.