World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 166

Uttarakanda, 45.19). He even revealed his intention to speak lie to Sita. He said that Sita had expressed her wish to visit hermitages on the banks of river Ganga. She would be taken there on the pretext of visiting hermitages and be abandoned near Sage Valmiki's hermitage (पूर्वमुक्तोऽहमनया गङ्गातीरेऽहमाश्रमान् ॥ qififa 14: aria4 11 Uttarakanda, 45. 24-25). Lakshmana was forbidden to tell anything to Sita. Sita was enthusiastic about going to see the hermitages. She is telling her plans to Lakshmana. She saw Lakshmana in tears, but did not suspect anything wrong. She thought Lakshmana was unhappy for leaving Rama for one day. They both were supposed to return next day morning. Sita told Lakshmana that Rama dearer to her also more than her life and he should not to be so childish' Hift af 27 ufafa
FUTI 7 2164 yiti a ra afina II Uttarakanda, 46.28). On the other side of the river Lakshmana could not hold himself and crying bitterly he fell to the ground. Then Sita suspected something wrong and commanded him to tell the truth (Uttarakanda, 47.9). He told her the truth, which shattered Sita. Rama could not tell her that she was being abandoned on the same ground for which she had undergone the fire ordeal. He was witness of her fire ordeal and her purity. He probably had no courage to stand before her and tell her truth. Instead he resorted to untruth. He threw Sita out like and unwanted dirty object and not treated her with humanly kindness.
Sita had no scope to speak or finish her weary life. She was in the advance stage of pregnancy. She did not know what to tell the sage Valmiki if he asked as why she was abandoned (Uttarakanda, XLVII.7). She held herself together while Lakshmana was there with her on the other bank of Ganga. Sita gave a message for Rama. The message said, 'you are the king properly established in Dharma. Treat your citizens like your own brothers. It will provide you unparalleled fame. I am not bothered about my body. It was necessary for you to rectify public censure in this way only. A wife should propitiate her husband even at the cost of her life." (Uttarakanda, 48.14-18) Lakshmana left her on the other bank of Ganga and ascended the boat. She saw him until his chariot on the other bank disappeared from the vision. Then she broke down. Fear of the lonely forest, loneliness, insult and grief of being abandoned, worry of the child in her womb and so many other things made her cry inconsolably.
Sage Valmiki's hermitage was nearby. His young disciples came to Ganga for bathing. They saw her sobbing thus and reported back to Sage Valmiki. The sage already knew her identity through his Yogic intuition. He told her that she was Rama's queen and Dasaratha's daughter-in-law and Janaka's beloved daughter. He also told her that, he knew the reasons of her presence there. He promised her to look after her just like his own daughter and took her in his hermitage (Uttarakanda, 49.15-16).
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