Janaka Sees Sita Sanctify Both Lineages
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 287
Doha 287 · Movement 1 of 2
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Janaka looks again at Sita in the dress of a tapasvi, and grief opens into profound contentment. His daughter has not merely endured exile. By the purity of her choice, she has sanctified the lineage from which she came and the lineage into which she entered.
He sees her fame as a river surpassing all rivers, like Ganga flowing through the worlds and gathering communities of saints upon her banks. His praise fills Sita with modesty until she seems to disappear within it. Father and mother embrace her and offer instruction, blessing, and love.
Sita does not say aloud that remaining there for the night would be unfitting. Sunaina reads the unspoken wish and conveys it to Janaka. He recognizes and inwardly praises the delicacy of her nature. Even amid reunion, Sita keeps watch over the discipline of her forest life.
Janaka praises a daughter whose purity flows like Ganga, while Sita's silent wish reveals that love has not loosened her discipline.
Read the passage from the Manas
तापस बेष जनक सिय देखी। भयउ पेमु परितोषु बिसेषी।। पुत्रि पवित्र किए कुल दोऊ। सुजस धवल जगु कह सबु कोऊ।। जिति सुरसरि कीरति सरि तोरी। गवनु कीन्ह बिधि अंड करोरी।। गंग अवनि थल तीनि बड़ेरे। एहिं किए साधु समाज घनेरे।। पितु कह सत्य सनेहँ सुबानी। सीय सकुच महुँ मनहुँ समानी।। पुनि पितु मातु लीन्ह उर लाई। सिख आसिष हित दीन्हि सुहाई।। कहति न सीय सकुचि मन माहीं। इहाँ बसब रजनीं भल नाहीं।। लखि रुख रानि जनायउ राऊ। हृदयँ सराहत सीलु सुभाऊ।।
When Janaka saw Sita dressed in the garb of a tapasvi, his heart filled with great prem and a deep, special contentment. "Dear daughter, you have sanctified both our kulas. The whole world speaks of your radiant, spotless fame." As Ganga has surpassed the keerti of every river, flowing through the crores of worlds fashioned by Brahma, so has she made holy all three great realms, earth, heaven, and the netherworld, gathering countless assemblies of sadhus. The father spoke these true and tender words, while Sita seemed to dissolve into her own lajja, her modesty. Then both father and mother drew her close to their hearts and gave her loving shiksha and sweet ashirvaad. Sita, shy in the depths of her heart, did not say aloud that it would not be well to stay the night here. Seeing her unspoken wish, the queen conveyed it to the king, who silently praised her sheel and her gentle svabhaav.