Sita Enters the Fire and Leaves Her Living Reflection beside Rama
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 22
Doha 24 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Rama asks his noble beloved to hear him. He will perform a beautiful human play, and until the destruction of the demons is complete, Sita is to dwell within fire. When he has explained the whole design, she holds the Lord's feet in her heart and enters the flame. In her place remains her own reflection, bearing the same virtue, beauty, and gentle modesty. The likeness is perfect, and even Lakshmana does not know the mystery his Lord has arranged.
The scene turns to the ocean shore. Ravana reaches the dwelling of Maricha and lowers his head before him, the selfish and ignoble king bending for the sake of his purpose. Outward courtesy covers a design already fixed upon abduction and deceit. The bow seems low, the speech will seem pleasing, yet the poet asks the listener to see the danger hidden in both.
Bowing by the wicked brings great pain, like an elephant goad bending to strike, a bow curving before release, a serpent coiling, or a cat crouching near its prey. Sweet words from an evil heart are equally fearful. Shiva tells Bhavani they are like flowers blooming out of season, beautiful yet ominous in their unnatural hour.
Sita vanishes into guarded flame while deception bows politely beside the sea.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनहु प्रिया ब्रत रुचिर सुसीला। मैं कछु करबि ललित नरलीला।। तुम्ह पावक महुँ करहु निवासा। जौ लगि करौं निसाचर नासा।। जबहिं राम सब कहा बखानी। प्रभु पद धरि हियँ अनल समानी।। निज प्रतिबिंब राखि तहँ सीता। तैसइ सील रुप सुबिनीता।। लछिमनहूँ यह मरमु न जाना। जो कछु चरित रचा भगवाना।। दसमुख गयउ जहाँ मारीचा। नाइ माथ स्वारथ रत नीचा।। नवनि नीच कै अति दुखदाई। जिमि अंकुस धनु उरग बिलाई।। भयदायक खल कै प्रिय बानी। जिमि अकाल के कुसुम भवानी।।
"Listen, beloved one of beautiful vows and noble heart. I shall now perform a charming act of divine play in human form. Dwell within the fire until I have completed the destruction of the demons." When Rama had explained everything, Sita placed the Lord's feet in her heart and entered the fire. She left her own reflection there, identical in virtue, beauty and gentle modesty. Even Lakshmana did not know this secret, this hidden design the Lord had arranged. Then the ten-headed Ravana went to where Maricha lived, that base and selfish wretch who bowed his head before him. The bowing of the wicked brings only suffering, like an elephant goad, a bow, a serpent or a cat. The sweet words of the evil are fearsome, O Bhavani, like flowers that bloom in the season of famine.