# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 110 — Anasūyā’s gifts and Sītā’s story *Sītā receives clothing, ornaments and unfading cosmetic, then recounts her earth-birth, the bow and marriage* Portion: Leaving Citrakūṭa for Atri’s hermitage · Verses: 52 · Ref format: 2.110. ## Sequence - Sītā responds that she understands this commitment and describes Rāma's kindness, restraint, and respect for the women of his family (110.1–6) - she recalls the guidance of her mother at the wedding and Kausalyā before the exile, saying Anasūyā has reinforced it (110.7–12) - pleased, Anasūyā offers to grant a wish through her tapas → Sītā says she is already content (110.13–16) - Anasūyā nevertheless gives her divine clothing, ornaments, a garland, and an unfading cosmetic (110.17–21) - she then asks Sītā to recount how she married Rāma (110.22–25). - Sītā begins with her birth: while Janaka was ploughing, she emerged from the opened earth → the childless King took her up as his daughter, a voice from the sky confirmed the relationship, and his Queen raised her (110.26–32) - when she reached marriageable age, Janaka worried about finding a suitable husband for a daughter with such an unusual origin → he decided to hold a contest (110.33–37) - in this account, Varuṇa had given Janaka a mighty bow and two inexhaustible quivers at a sacrifice → Janaka set the lifting and stringing of the bow as the condition for marrying her → the assembled Kings could not lift it and withdrew (110.38–42) - Rāma later arrived with Viśvāmitra and Lakṣmaṇa → he bent and strung the bow, breaking it with a great crash → Janaka offered Sītā to him, but Rāma would not marry without his father's approval → Daśaratha was summoned, Sītā married Rāma, and Ūrmilā married Lakṣmaṇa → Sītā ends by affirming the marriage she has remained devoted to (110.43–52). ## Verses **2.110.1** sā tv evam uktā vaidehī anasūyān asūyayā pratipūjya vaco mandaṃ pravaktum upacakrame But Vaidehī, thus addressed by Anasūyā who is free from all envy, honored her words and gently began to speak. **2.110.2** naitad āścaryam āryāyā yan māṃ tvam anubhāṣase viditaṃ tu mamāpy etad yathā nāryāḥ patir guruḥ “This that you, noble lady, say to me is no wonder; for I too know this — that for a woman the husband is her guru. **2.110.3** yady apy eṣa bhaved bhartā mamārye vṛttavarjitaḥ advaidham upavartavyas tathāpy eṣa mayā bhavet Even if, noble lady, this husband of mine were devoid of good conduct, still he would have to be served by me without duplicity. **2.110.4** kiṃ punar yo guṇaślāghyaḥ sānukrośo jitendriyaḥ sthirānurāgo dharmātmā mātṛvartī pitṛ priyaḥ How much more one who is praiseworthy for his virtues, compassionate, master of his senses, steadfast in love, righteous of soul, dutiful toward his mother and dear to his father! **2.110.5** yāṃ vṛttiṃ vartate rāmaḥ kausalyāyāṃ mahābalaḥ tām eva nṛpanārīṇām anyāsām api vartate The very conduct that the mighty Rāma shows toward Kausalyā, that same he shows toward the king's other women as well. **2.110.6** sakṛd dṛṣṭāsv api strīṣu nṛpeṇa nṛpavatsalaḥ mātṛvad vartate vīro mānam utsṛjya dharmavit Even toward women seen but once by the king, the hero — affectionate to the king and knowing dharma — behaves as toward a mother, laying aside all pride. **2.110.7** āgacchantyāś ca vijanaṃ vanam evaṃ bhayāvaham samāhitaṃ hi me śvaśrvā hṛdaye yat sthitaṃ mama And as I was coming to this desolate and so fearsome forest, the counsel my mother-in-law impressed upon me has stayed firm-set in my heart. **2.110.8** prāṇipradānakāle ca yat purā tv agnisaṃnidhau anuśiṣṭā jananyāsmi vākyaṃ tad api me dhṛtam And the words with which my mother instructed me long ago at the giving of the hand, there in the presence of the sacred fire — those too I have kept. **2.110.9** navīkṛtaṃ tu tat sarvaṃ vākyais te dharmacāriṇi patiśuśrūṣaṇān nāryās tapo nānyad vidhīyate All of that has now been renewed by your words, O righteous one; for a woman no austerity is ordained other than obedient service to her husband. **2.110.10** sāvitrī patiśuśrūṣāṃ kṛtvā svarge mahīyate tathā vṛttiś ca yātā tvaṃ patiśuśrūṣayā divam Sāvitrī, having rendered service to her husband, is exalted in heaven; and by adopting such conduct you too, through service to your husband, will reach heaven. **2.110.11** variṣṭhā sarvanārīṇām eṣā ca divi devatā rohiṇī ca vinā candraṃ muhūrtam api dṛśyate Best of all women, she is a goddess in heaven; and Rohiṇī is never seen apart from the Moon even for a moment. **2.110.12** evaṃvidhāś ca pravarāḥ striyo bhartṛdṛḍhavratāḥ devaloke mahīyante puṇyena svena karmaṇā And such excellent women, firm in their vows to their husbands, are exalted in the world of the gods by their own meritorious deeds.” **2.110.13** tato 'nasūyā saṃhṛṣṭā śrutvoktaṃ sītayā vacaḥ śirasy āghrāya covāca maithilīṃ harṣayanty uta Then Anasūyā, delighted to hear the words spoken by Sītā, kissed her on the head and, gladdening the Maithilī, said: **2.110.14** niyamair vividhair āptaṃ tapo hi mahad asti me tat saṃśritya balaṃ sīte chandaye tvāṃ śucivrate “Great austerity, gained through manifold observances, is indeed mine; relying on that power, O Sītā of pure vows, I offer you a wish of your choosing. **2.110.15** upapannaṃ ca yuktaṃ ca vacanaṃ tava maithili prītā cāsmy ucitaṃ kiṃ te karavāṇi bravīhi me kṛtam ity abravīt sītā tapobalasamanvitām “Fitting and proper is your speech, O Maithilī, and I am pleased. Tell me — what suitable thing shall I do for you?” But Sītā answered the one endowed with the power of austerity, “It is already accomplished.” **2.110.16** sā tv evam uktā dharmajñā tayā prītatarābhavat saphalaṃ ca praharṣaṃ te hanta sīte karomy aham But she, the knower of dharma, thus addressed by her, became even more pleased: “Ah, Sītā, I shall make your joy bear fruit! **2.110.17** idaṃ divyaṃ varaṃ mālyaṃ vastram ābharaṇāni ca aṅgarāgaṃ ca vaidehi mahārham anulepanam This heavenly, choice garland, this raiment and these ornaments, and a body-cosmetic, O Vaidehī, and a precious unguent — **2.110.18** mayā dattam idaṃ sīte tava gātrāṇi śobhayet anurūpam asaṃkliṣṭaṃ nityam eva bhaviṣyati this, given by me, O Sītā, will beautify your limbs; suited to you and unfading, it will remain so forever. **2.110.19** aṅgarāgeṇa divyena liptāṅgī janakātmaje śobhayiṣyāmi bhartāraṃ yathā śrīr viṣṇum avyayam O daughter of Janaka, with your limbs anointed by this divine cosmetic I shall make you grace your husband, as Śrī graces the imperishable Viṣṇu. **2.110.20** sā vastram aṅgarāgaṃ ca bhūṣaṇāni srajas tathā maithilī pratijagrāha prītidānam anuttamam That Maithilī accepted the raiment, the cosmetic, the ornaments, and the garlands too — that unsurpassed gift of love. **2.110.21** pratigṛhya ca tat sītā prītidānaṃ yaśasvinī śliṣṭāñjalipuṭā dhīrā samupāsta tapodhanām And having received that gift of love, the illustrious, steadfast Sītā, with hollowed palms joined in reverence, sat attending upon the ascetic woman. **2.110.22** tathā sītām upāsīnām anasūyā dṛḍhavratā vacanaṃ praṣṭum ārebhe kathāṃ kāṃ cid anupriyām Then Anasūyā of firm vows began to ask Sītā, who sat attending her, for some agreeable tale. **2.110.23** svayaṃvare kila prāptā tvam anena yaśasvinā rāghaveṇeti me sīte kathā śrutim upāgatā “It has reached my ears, O Sītā — the tale that you were won at a self-choice ceremony by this illustrious Rāghava. **2.110.24** tāṃ kathāṃ śrotum icchāmi vistareṇa ca maithili yathānubhūtaṃ kārtsnyena tan me tvaṃ vaktum arhasi I wish to hear that story in full, O Maithilī; you ought to tell it to me entirely, just as it happened.” **2.110.25** evam uktā tu sā sītā tāṃ tato dharmacāriṇīm śrūyatām iti coktvā vai kathayām āsa tāṃ kathām Thus addressed, Sītā then said to that righteous woman, “Let it be heard,” and began to tell her the tale. **2.110.26** mithilādhipatir vīro janako nāma dharmavit kṣatradharmaṇy abhirato nyāyataḥ śāsti medinīm “The heroic lord of Mithilā, Janaka by name, a knower of dharma, devoted to the duty of the warrior, rules the earth by justice. **2.110.27** tasya lāṅgalahastasya karṣataḥ kṣetramaṇḍalam ahaṃ kilotthitā bhittvā jagatīṃ nṛpateḥ sutā As he, plough in hand, was tilling the round of the field, I — the king's daughter — so it is said, rose up cleaving the earth. **2.110.28** sa māṃ dṛṣṭvā narapatir muṣṭivikṣepatatparaḥ pāṃśu guṇṭhita sarvāṅgīṃ vismito janako 'bhavat That lord of men, Janaka, intent on casting seed-grain from his fist, was astonished on seeing me, all my limbs covered with dust. **2.110.29** anapatyena ca snehād aṅkam āropya ca svayam mameyaṃ tanayety uktvā sneho mayi nipātitaḥ And he, being childless, out of affection lifted me himself onto his lap, and saying, ‘This is my daughter,’ bestowed his love upon me. **2.110.30** antarikṣe ca vāg uktāpratimā mānuṣī kila evam etan narapate dharmeṇa tanayā tava And in the sky a voice, peerless and human-like, was uttered, it is said: ‘So it is, O king; by dharma she is your daughter.’ **2.110.31** tataḥ prahṛṣṭo dharmātmā pitā me mithilādhipaḥ avāpto vipulām ṛddhiṃ mām avāpya narādhipaḥ Then my father, the righteous lord of Mithilā, rejoiced greatly; and that king, having gained me, attained abundant prosperity. **2.110.32** dattvā cāsmīṣṭavad devyai jyeṣṭhāyai puṇyakarmaṇā tayā saṃbhāvitā cāsmi snigdhayā mātṛsauhṛdāt And by him of holy deeds I was given over, like a beloved child, to his eldest queen; and by her, full of tenderness, I was cherished with a mother's affection. **2.110.33** patisaṃyogasulabhaṃ vayo dṛṣṭvā tu me pitā cintām abhyagamad dīno vittanāśād ivādhanaḥ But when my father saw that I had reached the age fit for union with a husband, he fell into distress, like a poor man stricken at the loss of his wealth. **2.110.34** sadṛśāc cāpakṛṣṭāc ca loke kanyāpitā janāt pradharṣaṇām avāpnoti śakreṇāpi samo bhuvi In this world the father of a daughter, though he be the equal of Indra on earth, suffers humiliation from people whether equal or inferior to him. **2.110.35** tāṃ dharṣaṇām adūrasthāṃ saṃdṛśyātmani pārthivaḥ cinntārṇavagataḥ pāraṃ nāsasādāplavo yatha Seeing that humiliation looming near upon himself, the king, plunged into a sea of anxiety, could not reach its farther shore, like one without a raft. **2.110.36** ayonijāṃ hi māṃ jñātvā nādhyagacchat sa cintayan sadṛśaṃ cānurūpaṃ ca mahīpālaḥ patiṃ mama For knowing me to be not born of a womb, that guardian of the earth, though he pondered, could not find for me a husband equal and suited to me. **2.110.37** tasya buddhir iyaṃ jātā cintayānasya saṃtatam svayaṃ varaṃ tanūjāyāḥ kariṣyāmīti dhīmataḥ As he pondered continually, this resolve arose in the wise one's mind: ‘I shall hold a self-choice ceremony for my daughter.’ **2.110.38** mahāyajñe tadā tasya varuṇena mahātmanā dattaṃ dhanurvaraṃ prītyā tūṇī cākṣayya sāyakau At a great sacrifice long ago, the exalted Varuṇa had given him, out of affection, an excellent bow and two quivers with inexhaustible arrows. **2.110.39** asaṃcālyaṃ manuṣyaiś ca yatnenāpi ca gauravāt tan na śaktā namayituṃ svapneṣv api narādhipāḥ Unmovable by men even with effort, on account of its great weight — that bow the kings were not able to bend even in their dreams. **2.110.40** tad dhanuḥ prāpya me pitrā vyāhṛtaṃ satyavādinā samavāye narendrāṇāṃ pūrvam āmantrya pārthivān Taking up that bow, my truth-speaking father, having first summoned the princes, declared in the assembly of kings: **2.110.41** idaṃ ca dhanur udyamya sajyaṃ yaḥ kurute naraḥ tasya me duhitā bhāryā bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ‘Whatever man, lifting up this bow, can string it, to him my daughter shall become a wife — of this there is no doubt.’ **2.110.42** tac ca dṛṣṭvā dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ gauravād girisaṃnibham abhivādya nṛpā jagmur aśaktās tasya tolane And beholding that best of bows, like a mountain in its weight, the kings, unable to lift it, saluted it and departed. **2.110.43** sudīrghasya tu kālasya rāghavo 'yaṃ mahādyutiḥ viśvāmitreṇa sahito yajñaṃ draṣṭuṃ samāgataḥ After a very long time, this Rāghava of great splendor, together with Viśvāmitra, came to witness the sacrifice. **2.110.44** lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā rāmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ viśvāmitras tu dharmātmā mama pitrā supūjitaḥ Rāma of unfailing valor came with his brother Lakṣmaṇa; and the righteous Viśvāmitra was warmly honored by my father. **2.110.45** provāca pitaraṃ tatra rāghavo rāmalakṣmaṇau sutau daśarathasyemau dhanurdarśanakāṅkṣiṇau ity uktas tena vipreṇa tad dhanuḥ samupānayat There the sage spoke to my father of the two Rāghavas, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa: ‘These two are sons of Daśaratha, eager to see the bow.’ Thus urged by that brahmin, my father had the bow brought forth. **2.110.46** nimeṣāntaramātreṇa tad ānamya sa vīryavān jyāṃ samāropya jhaṭiti pūrayām āsa vīryavān In the mere space of a blink, that mighty one bent the bow, swiftly fastened the string, and drew it to the full. **2.110.47** tena pūrayatā vegān madhye bhagnaṃ dvidhā dhanuḥ tasya śabdo 'bhavad bhīmaḥ patitasyāśaner iva As he drew it forcefully, the bow snapped in two in the middle; and its sound was terrible, like that of a falling thunderbolt. **2.110.48** tato 'haṃ tatra rāmāya pitrā satyābhisaṃdhinā udyatā dātum udyamya jalabhājanam uttamam Then, there, my father, true to his word, raising up an excellent vessel of water, made ready to give me to Rāma. **2.110.49** dīyamānāṃ na tu tadā pratijagrāha rāghavaḥ avijñāya pituś chandam ayodhyādhipateḥ prabhoḥ But Rāghava did not then accept me, though I was being given, without first knowing the will of his father, the sovereign lord of Ayodhyā. **2.110.50** tataḥ śvaśuram āmantrya vṛddhaṃ daśarathaṃ nṛpam mama pitrā ahaṃ dattā rāmāya viditātmane Then, having summoned my father-in-law, the aged king Daśaratha, my father gave me to Rāma, whose nature was well known. **2.110.51** mama caivānujā sādhvī ūrmilā priyadarśanā bhāryārthe lakṣmaṇasyāpi dattā pitrā mama svayam And my younger sister too, the virtuous, fair-to-look-upon Ūrmilā, was given by my father himself to be the wife of Lakṣmaṇa. **2.110.52** evaṃ dattāsmi rāmāya tadā tasmin svayaṃ vare anuraktā ca dharmeṇa patiṃ vīryavatāṃ varam Thus was I given to Rāma then at that self-choice, and by dharma I am devoted to my husband, the best of the mighty.”