Sita Comes and Sits with Her Head Bowed
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 57
Doha 57 · Movement 2 of 2
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News of exile reaches Sita. Anguish lifts her at once and carries her toward Kausalya's chamber.
She bows at both lotus feet of her mother in law, then sits with her head lowered. No demand or declaration has yet been spoken.
The posture contains the coming choice. Sita enters as daughter, wife, and servant of dharma, bringing grief under reverence before giving it words. Around her, Ram and Kausalya have already crossed one threshold of separation; her quiet arrival reveals that the forest command must now pass through marriage as well.
Sita enters the chamber of farewell silently, her bowed head already leaning toward the forest road.
Read the passage from the Manas
समाचार तेहि समय सुनि सीय उठी अकुलाइ। जाइ सासु पद कमल जुग बंदि बैठि सिरु नाइ।।57।।
At that very moment, hearing the news, Sita rose in anguish. She went to her mother-in-law, bowed at both her lotus feet, and sat down with her head lowered.