Ramayana. Sita's Second Trial.
Then Rama governed Ayodhya for ten thuosand years; and at length it came to pass that Sita had conceived. Then Rama asked her if she had any longing, and she replied that she desired to visit the hermitages of the sages by the Ganges; and Rama said: "So be it"; and the visit was fixed for the morrow.
The same night it happened that Rama was engaged in converse with his counsellors and friends, and he asked them: "What do the citizens and countrymen say of Sita and my brothers and Kaikeyi?" And one replied that they spoke often of Rama's great conquest of Ravana. But Rama pressed for more definite reports, and a counsellor replied: "The people do indeed speak of thy great deeds and thy alliance with the bears and monkeys and rakshasas; but they murmur inasmuch as thou hast taken Sita back, albeit she was touched by Ravana and dwelt long time in his city of Lanka. For all that, they say, thou dost still acknowledge her. 'Now we, too, will pass over the misdoings of our wives, for subjects always follow the customs of their king." Such, O king, is the talk."
Then Rama's heart sank, and he sent away the counsellors and sent for his brothers, and they came and stood by him with folded hands and touched his feet. But they saw that he was heavy-hearted and that his eyes were full of tears, and waited anxiously for him to speak. Then Rama told them what he had learnt. "I am crushed by these slanders," he said, "for I am of an illustrious family, and Sita is no less nobly born. And Sita, to prove her innnocence, submitted to ordeal by fire before you all, and Fire and Wind and all the gods declared her stainless. Even now my heart knows her to be blameless. But the censure of the folk has pierced me: ill is ill-fame for such as I, and preferable were death than this disgrace. Do thou, therefore, Lakshman, make no question, but take Sita with thee tomorrow to Valmiki's hermitage beside the Ganges, as if fulfilling the desire she spoke of even now; and by my life and arms, do ye not seek to move me from this, lest I deem you to be my foes." And Rama's eyes were full of tears, and he went to his own apartment sighing like a wounded elephant.
The next morning Lakshman brought a goodly car and came to Sita, saying: "Rama hath commanded me to take thee to the hermitages by the Ganges in accordance with thy wish." Then Sita, taking costly gifts were her, mounted the car most eagerly. On the second day they came to the Ganges bank, whose water takes away all sin; but Lakshman stood and wept aloud. Then Sita asked him why he wept. "For," she said, "it is but two days since thou didst see Rama: he is dearer to me than life, but I am not so sad as thou. Do thou take me across the river to visit the hermits there and present my gifts, and then shall we return; and, indeed, I am eager to see my lord again, whose eyes are like the petals of the lotus, the lion-breast, the first of men." So Lakshman sent for boatmen, and they went across. When they were come to the other side, Lakshman stood by Sita with folded hands and prayed her to forgive him and not deem him at fault, saying: "This is a matter too sore for words, so I but tell thee openly that Rama now renounces thee, inasmuch as the citizens have spoken against thee; he has commanded me to leave thee here, as if in satisfaction of thy own desire. But do not grieve, for well I know that thou art guiltless, and thou mayst dwell with Valmiki, our father's friend. Do thou remember Rama always and serve the gods, so mayst thou be blest!" Then Sita fell down fainting; but she came to herself and complained bitterly: "Alas! I must have greatly sinned in a past life to be thus divided from my lord, though blameless. O Lakshman, formerly it was no hardship for me to live in the forest, for I was able to be Rama's servant. But how can I live there all alone now, and what reply can I make to those who ask what sin I have committed to be banished thus? I would fain be drowned in these waters, but I may not bring about the destruction of my lord's race. Do thou as Rama has ordered, but take this message from me to him: 'Thou knowest, O Rama, that I am unstained and devoted utterly to thee. I understand that it is for the avoiding of ill-fame that thou dost renounce me, and it is my duty to serve thee even in this. A husband is a woman's god, her friend and guru. I do not grieve for what befalls me, but because the people have spoken ill of me.' Do thou go and tell these things to Rama." Then Lakshman crossed the river again and came to Ayodhya; but Sita went to and fro without any refuge and began to cry aloud. Then Valmiki's sons found her there, and Valmiki came to the river-side and comforted her, and brought her to the hermitage and gave her to the hermits' wives to cherish with affection.
Lakshman found his brother sunk in grief and with his eyes filled with tears, and he was sorry, and touched his feet and stood with folded hands, and said: "O sire, I have done all that thou didst command, and have left that peerless lady at Valmiki's hermitage. Thou shouldst not grieve therefore; for such is the work of time, whereat the wise grieve not. Where there is growth there is decay; where there is prosperity there is also ruin; where there is birth there must be also death. Therefore, attachment to wife, or sons, or friends, or wealth is wrong, for separation is certain. Nor shouldst thou give way to grief before the folk, lest they blame thee again."
Then Rama was comforted, and praised the words and love of Lakshman; and he sent for the priests and counsellors who waited, and occupied himself again with the affairs of state. But none had come that day for any affair, for in Rama's time there was no disease or poverty, and none sought redress. But as Lakshman went away he saw a dog, that waited by the gate and barked, and he asked it what was its affair. Then the dog replied: "I wish to tell it to Rama himself, who is the refuge of all creatures, and proclaims 'Fear nothing' to them all." So Lakshman returned to Rama and informed him, and Rama sent for the dog to come to him. But the dog would not go in, saying: "We are the vilest born, and we may not enter the houses of gods or kings or Brahmans." Then Lakshman took this message also to Rama; but he sent again for the dog and gave him leave to enter, who waited at the gate.
Then Rama governed Ayodhya for ten thuosand years; and at length it came to pass that Sita had conceived. Then Rama asked her if she had any longing, and she replied that she desired to visit the hermitages of the sages by the Ganges; and Rama said: "So be it"; and the visit was fixed for the morrow.
The same night it happened that Rama was engaged in converse with his counsellors and friends, and he asked them: "What do the citizens and countrymen say of Sita and my brothers and Kaikeyi?" And one replied that they spoke often of Rama's great conquest of Ravana. But Rama pressed for more definite reports, and a counsellor replied: "The people do indeed speak of thy great deeds and thy alliance with the bears and monkeys and rakshasas; but they murmur inasmuch as thou hast taken Sita back, albeit she was touched by Ravana and dwelt long time in his city of Lanka. For all that, they say, thou dost still acknowledge her. 'Now we, too, will pass over the misdoings of our wives, for subjects always follow the customs of their king." Such, O king, is the talk."
Then Rama's heart sank, and he sent away the counsellors and sent for his brothers, and they came and stood by him with folded hands and touched his feet. But they saw that he was heavy-hearted and that his eyes were full of tears, and waited anxiously for him to speak. Then Rama told them what he had learnt. "I am crushed by these slanders," he said, "for I am of an illustrious family, and Sita is no less nobly born. And Sita, to prove her innnocence, submitted to ordeal by fire before you all, and Fire and Wind and all the gods declared her stainless. Even now my heart knows her to be blameless. But the censure of the folk has pierced me: ill is ill-fame for such as I, and preferable were death than this disgrace. Do thou, therefore, Lakshman, make no question, but take Sita with thee tomorrow to Valmiki's hermitage beside the Ganges, as if fulfilling the desire she spoke of even now; and by my life and arms, do ye not seek to move me from this, lest I deem you to be my foes." And Rama's eyes were full of tears, and he went to his own apartment sighing like a wounded elephant.
The next morning Lakshman brought a goodly car and came to Sita, saying: "Rama hath commanded me to take thee to the hermitages by the Ganges in accordance with thy wish." Then Sita, taking costly gifts were her, mounted the car most eagerly. On the second day they came to the Ganges bank, whose water takes away all sin; but Lakshman stood and wept aloud. Then Sita asked him why he wept. "For," she said, "it is but two days since thou didst see Rama: he is dearer to me than life, but I am not so sad as thou. Do thou take me across the river to visit the hermits there and present my gifts, and then shall we return; and, indeed, I am eager to see my lord again, whose eyes are like the petals of the lotus, the lion-breast, the first of men." So Lakshman sent for boatmen, and they went across. When they were come to the other side, Lakshman stood by Sita with folded hands and prayed her to forgive him and not deem him at fault, saying: "This is a matter too sore for words, so I but tell thee openly that Rama now renounces thee, inasmuch as the citizens have spoken against thee; he has commanded me to leave thee here, as if in satisfaction of thy own desire. But do not grieve, for well I know that thou art guiltless, and thou mayst dwell with Valmiki, our father's friend. Do thou remember Rama always and serve the gods, so mayst thou be blest!" Then Sita fell down fainting; but she came to herself and complained bitterly: "Alas! I must have greatly sinned in a past life to be thus divided from my lord, though blameless. O Lakshman, formerly it was no hardship for me to live in the forest, for I was able to be Rama's servant. But how can I live there all alone now, and what reply can I make to those who ask what sin I have committed to be banished thus? I would fain be drowned in these waters, but I may not bring about the destruction of my lord's race. Do thou as Rama has ordered, but take this message from me to him: 'Thou knowest, O Rama, that I am unstained and devoted utterly to thee. I understand that it is for the avoiding of ill-fame that thou dost renounce me, and it is my duty to serve thee even in this. A husband is a woman's god, her friend and guru. I do not grieve for what befalls me, but because the people have spoken ill of me.' Do thou go and tell these things to Rama." Then Lakshman crossed the river again and came to Ayodhya; but Sita went to and fro without any refuge and began to cry aloud. Then Valmiki's sons found her there, and Valmiki came to the river-side and comforted her, and brought her to the hermitage and gave her to the hermits' wives to cherish with affection.
Lakshman found his brother sunk in grief and with his eyes filled with tears, and he was sorry, and touched his feet and stood with folded hands, and said: "O sire, I have done all that thou didst command, and have left that peerless lady at Valmiki's hermitage. Thou shouldst not grieve therefore; for such is the work of time, whereat the wise grieve not. Where there is growth there is decay; where there is prosperity there is also ruin; where there is birth there must be also death. Therefore, attachment to wife, or sons, or friends, or wealth is wrong, for separation is certain. Nor shouldst thou give way to grief before the folk, lest they blame thee again."
Then Rama was comforted, and praised the words and love of Lakshman; and he sent for the priests and counsellors who waited, and occupied himself again with the affairs of state. But none had come that day for any affair, for in Rama's time there was no disease or poverty, and none sought redress. But as Lakshman went away he saw a dog, that waited by the gate and barked, and he asked it what was its affair. Then the dog replied: "I wish to tell it to Rama himself, who is the refuge of all creatures, and proclaims 'Fear nothing' to them all." So Lakshman returned to Rama and informed him, and Rama sent for the dog to come to him. But the dog would not go in, saying: "We are the vilest born, and we may not enter the houses of gods or kings or Brahmans." Then Lakshman took this message also to Rama; but he sent again for the dog and gave him leave to enter, who waited at the gate.
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Then Rama governed Ayodhya for ten thuosand years; and at length it came to pass that Sita had conceived. Then Rama asked her if she had any longing, and she replied that she desired to visit the hermitages of the sages by the Ganges; and Rama said: "So be it"; and the visit was fixed for the morrow.
The same night it happened that Rama was engaged in converse with his counsellors and friends, and he asked them: "What do the citizens and countrymen say of Sita and my brothers and Kaikeyi?" And one replied that they spoke often of Rama's great conquest of Ravana. But Rama pressed for more definite reports, and a counsellor replied: "The people do indeed speak of thy great deeds and thy alliance with the bears and monkeys and rakshasas; but they murmur inasmuch as thou hast taken Sita back, albeit she was touched by Ravana and dwelt long time in his city of Lanka. For all that, they say, thou dost still acknowledge her. 'Now we, too, will pass over the misdoings of our wives, for subjects always follow the customs of their king." Such, O king, is the talk."
Then Rama's heart sank, and he sent away the counsellors and sent for his brothers, and they came and stood by him with folded hands and touched his feet. But they saw that he was heavy-hearted and that his eyes were full of tears, and waited anxiously for him to speak. Then Rama told them what he had learnt. "I am crushed by these slanders," he said, "for I am of an illustrious family, and Sita is no less nobly born. And Sita, to prove her innnocence, submitted to ordeal by fire before you all, and Fire and Wind and all the gods declared her stainless. Even now my heart knows her to be blameless. But the censure of the folk has pierced me: ill is ill-fame for such as I, and preferable were death than this disgrace. Do thou, therefore, Lakshman, make no question, but take Sita with thee tomorrow to Valmiki's hermitage beside the Ganges, as if fulfilling the desire she spoke of even now; and by my life and arms, do ye not seek to move me from this, lest I deem you to be my foes." And Rama's eyes were full of tears, and he went to his own apartment sighing like a wounded elephant.
The next morning Lakshman brought a goodly car and came to Sita, saying: "Rama hath commanded me to take thee to the hermitages by the Ganges in accordance with thy wish." Then Sita, taking costly gifts were her, mounted the car most eagerly. On the second day they came to the Ganges bank, whose water takes away all sin; but Lakshman stood and wept aloud. Then Sita asked him why he wept. "For," she said, "it is but two days since thou didst see Rama: he is dearer to me than life, but I am not so sad as thou. Do thou take me across the river to visit the hermits there and present my gifts, and then shall we return; and, indeed, I am eager to see my lord again, whose eyes are like the petals of the lotus, the lion-breast, the first of men." So Lakshman sent for boatmen, and they went across. When they were come to the other side, Lakshman stood by Sita with folded hands and prayed her to forgive him and not deem him at fault, saying: "This is a matter too sore for words, so I but tell thee openly that Rama now renounces thee, inasmuch as the citizens have spoken against thee; he has commanded me to leave thee here, as if in satisfaction of thy own desire. But do not grieve, for well I know that thou art guiltless, and thou mayst dwell with Valmiki, our father's friend. Do thou remember Rama always and serve the gods, so mayst thou be blest!" Then Sita fell down fainting; but she came to herself and complained bitterly: "Alas! I must have greatly sinned in a past life to be thus divided from my lord, though blameless. O Lakshman, formerly it was no hardship for me to live in the forest, for I was able to be Rama's servant. But how can I live there all alone now, and what reply can I make to those who ask what sin I have committed to be banished thus? I would fain be drowned in these waters, but I may not bring about the destruction of my lord's race. Do thou as Rama has ordered, but take this message from me to him: 'Thou knowest, O Rama, that I am unstained and devoted utterly to thee. I understand that it is for the avoiding of ill-fame that thou dost renounce me, and it is my duty to serve thee even in this. A husband is a woman's god, her friend and guru. I do not grieve for what befalls me, but because the people have spoken ill of me.' Do thou go and tell these things to Rama." Then Lakshman crossed the river again and came to Ayodhya; but Sita went to and fro without any refuge and began to cry aloud. Then Valmiki's sons found her there, and Valmiki came to the river-side and comforted her, and brought her to the hermitage and gave her to the hermits' wives to cherish with affection.
Lakshman found his brother sunk in grief and with his eyes filled with tears, and he was sorry, and touched his feet and stood with folded hands, and said: "O sire, I have done all that thou didst command, and have left that peerless lady at Valmiki's hermitage. Thou shouldst not grieve therefore; for such is the work of time, whereat the wise grieve not. Where there is growth there is decay; where there is prosperity there is also ruin; where there is birth there must be also death. Therefore, attachment to wife, or sons, or friends, or wealth is wrong, for separation is certain. Nor shouldst thou give way to grief before the folk, lest they blame thee again."
Then Rama was comforted, and praised the words and love of Lakshman; and he sent for the priests and counsellors who waited, and occupied himself again with the affairs of state. But none had come that day for any affair, for in Rama's time there was no disease or poverty, and none sought redress. But as Lakshman went away he saw a dog, that waited by the gate and barked, and he asked it what was its affair. Then the dog replied: "I wish to tell it to Rama himself, who is the refuge of all creatures, and proclaims 'Fear nothing' to them all." So Lakshman returned to Rama and informed him, and Rama sent for the dog to come to him. But the dog would not go in, saying: "We are the vilest born, and we may not enter the houses of gods or kings or Brahmans." Then Lakshman took this message also to Rama; but he sent again for the dog and gave him leave to enter, who waited at the gate.
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