25 shlokas
तस्यां रजन्यां व्युष्टायां यज्ञवाटगतो नृपः । ऋषीन्सर्वान्महातेजाः शब्दापयति राघवः ।। 7.96.1 ।।
tasyāṃ rajanyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ yajñavāṭagato nṛpaḥ | ṛṣīnsarvānmahātejāḥ śabdāpayati rāghavaḥ || 7.96.1 ||
Translation
When that night had passed into dawn, the king of great splendor, Raghava, having gone to the sacrificial enclosure, summoned all the sages.
वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च जाबालिरथ काश्यपः । विश्वामित्रो दीर्घतपा दुर्वासाश्च महातपाः ।। 7.96.2 ।।
vasiṣṭho vāmadevaśca jābāliratha kāśyapaḥ | viśvāmitro dīrghatapā durvāsāśca mahātapāḥ || 7.96.2 ||
Translation
Vasishtha and Vamadeva, Jabali and Kashyapa, Vishvamitra of long austerities, and Durvasa of great penance;
पुलस्त्यो ऽपि तथा शक्तिर्भार्गवश्चैव वामनः । मार्कण्डेयश्च दीर्घायुर्मौद्गल्यश्च महायशाः ।। 7.96.3 ।।
pulastyo 'pi tathā śaktirbhārgavaścaiva vāmanaḥ | mārkaṇḍeyaśca dīrghāyurmaudgalyaśca mahāyaśāḥ || 7.96.3 ||
Translation
Pulastya too, and likewise Shakti, and Vamana of the line of Bhrigu, and long-lived Markandeya, and the greatly renowned Maudgalya;
गर्गश्च च्यवनश्चैव शतानन्दश्च धर्मवित् । भरद्वाजश्च तेजस्वी ह्यग्निपुत्रश्च सुप्रभः ।। 7.96.4 ।।
gargaśca cyavanaścaiva śatānandaśca dharmavit | bharadvājaśca tejasvī hyagniputraśca suprabhaḥ || 7.96.4 ||
Translation
Garga and Chyavana, and Shatananda the knower of dharma, and the radiant Bharadvaja, and the brilliant Suprabha, son of Agni;
नारदः पर्वतश्चैव गौतमश्च महायशाः । कात्यायनः सुयज्ञश्च ह्यगस्त्यस्तपसां निधिः ।। 7.96.5 ।।
nāradaḥ parvataścaiva gautamaśca mahāyaśāḥ | kātyāyanaḥ suyajñaśca hyagastyastapasāṃ nidhiḥ || 7.96.5 ||
Translation
Narada and Parvata, and the greatly renowned Gautama, Katyayana and Suyajna, and Agastya, a treasury of austerities;
एते चान्ये च बहवो मुनयः संशितव्रताः । कौतूहलसमाविष्टाः सर्व एव समागताः ।। 7.96.6 ।।
ete cānye ca bahavo munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ | kautūhalasamāviṣṭāḥ sarva eva samāgatāḥ || 7.96.6 ||
Translation
these and many other sages of strict vows, filled with curiosity, all came together.
राक्षसाश्च महावीर्या वानराश्च महाबलाः । सर्व एव समाजग्मुर्महात्मानः कुतूहलात् ।। 7.96.7 ।।
rākṣasāśca mahāvīryā vānarāśca mahābalāḥ | sarva eva samājagmurmahātmānaḥ kutūhalāt || 7.96.7 ||
Translation
And the rakshasas of great valor and the vanaras of great strength, all those great-souled ones, gathered together out of curiosity.
क्षत्रिया ये च शूद्राश्च वैश्याश्चैव सहस्रशः । नानादेशगताश्चैव ब्राह्मणाः संशितव्रताः ।। 7.96.8 ।।
kṣatriyā ye ca śūdrāśca vaiśyāścaiva sahasraśaḥ | nānādeśagatāścaiva brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ || 7.96.8 ||
Translation
Kshatriyas, and Shudras, and Vaishyas too in their thousands, and brahmanas of strict vows come from various lands;
ज्ञाननिष्ठाः कर्मनिष्ठाः योगनिष्ठास्तथापरे । सीताशपथवीक्षार्थं सर्व एव समागताः ।। 7.96.9 ।।
jñānaniṣṭhāḥ karmaniṣṭhāḥ yoganiṣṭhāstathāpare | sītāśapathavīkṣārthaṃ sarva eva samāgatāḥ || 7.96.9 ||
Translation
those devoted to knowledge, those devoted to ritual action, and others devoted to yoga—all came together to witness the oath of Sita.
तदा समागतं सर्वमश्मभूतमिवाचलम् । श्रुत्वा मुनिवरस्तूर्णं ससीतः समुपागमत् ।। 7.96.10 ।।
tadā samāgataṃ sarvamaśmabhūtamivācalam | śrutvā munivarastūrṇaṃ sasītaḥ samupāgamat || 7.96.10 ||
Translation
When the foremost of sages heard that the whole assembly had gathered, motionless as if turned to stone, he came forth swiftly together with Sita.
तमृषिं पृष्ठतः सीता त्वन्वगच्छदवाङ्मुखी । कृताञ्जलिर्बाष्पगला कृत्वा रामं मनोगतम् ।। 7.96.11 ।।
tamṛṣiṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ sītā tvanvagacchadavāṅmukhī | kṛtāñjalirbāṣpagalā kṛtvā rāmaṃ manogatam || 7.96.11 ||
Translation
Behind that sage Sita followed, her face cast downward, her palms joined, her throat choked with tears, fixing Rama within her heart.
दृष्ट्वा श्रुतिमिवायान्तीं ब्रह्माणमनुगामिनीम् । वाल्मीकेः पृष्ठतः सीतां साधुवादो महानभूत् ।। 7.96.12 ।।
dṛṣṭvā śrutimivāyāntīṃ brahmāṇamanugāminīm | vālmīkeḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ sītāṃ sādhuvādo mahānabhūt || 7.96.12 ||
Translation
When Sita was seen coming behind Valmiki, following him as the sacred revelation follows Brahma, a great cry of approval arose.
ततो हलहलाशब्दः सर्वेषामेवमाबभौ । दुःखजन्मविशालेन शोकेनाकुलितात्मनाम् ।। 7.96.13 ।।
tato halahalāśabdaḥ sarveṣāmevamābabhau | duḥkhajanmaviśālena śokenākulitātmanām || 7.96.13 ||
Translation
Then a tumultuous murmur arose from all those whose hearts were agitated by a vast grief born of sorrow.
साधु रामेति केचित्तु साधु सीतेति चापरे । उभावेव च तत्रान्ये प्रेक्षकाः सम्प्रचुक्रुशुः ।। 7.96.14 ।।
sādhu rāmeti kecittu sādhu sīteti cāpare | ubhāveva ca tatrānye prekṣakāḥ sampracukruśuḥ || 7.96.14 ||
Translation
Some cried out "Hail to Rama!" while others cried "Hail to Sita!"; and still other onlookers there acclaimed them both together.
ततो मध्ये जनौघस्य प्रविश्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । सीतासहायो वाल्मीकिरिति होवाच राघवम् ।। 7.96.15 ।।
tato madhye janaughasya praviśya munipuṅgavaḥ | sītāsahāyo vālmīkiriti hovāca rāghavam || 7.96.15 ||
Translation
Then, entering into the midst of the throng of people, that bull among sages Valmiki, with Sita at his side, spoke thus to Raghava.
इयं दाशरथे सीता सुव्रता धर्मचारिणी । अपवादैः परित्यक्ता ममाश्रमसमीपतः ।। 7.96.16 ।।
iyaṃ dāśarathe sītā suvratā dharmacāriṇī | apavādaiḥ parityaktā mamāśramasamīpataḥ || 7.96.16 ||
Translation
"This is Sita, O son of Dasharatha, faithful to her vows and devoted to righteousness, who, on account of slander, was abandoned near my hermitage."
लोकापवादभीतस्य तव राम महाव्रत । प्रत्ययं दास्यते सीता तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ।। 7.96.17 ।।
lokāpavādabhītasya tava rāma mahāvrata | pratyayaṃ dāsyate sītā tadanujñātumarhasi || 7.96.17 ||
Translation
"O Rama of great vows, Sita will give you, who fear the slander of the world, proof of her purity; therefore you ought to grant her leave to do so."
इमौ तु जानकीपुत्रावुभौ च यमजातकौ । सुतौ तवैव दुर्धर्षौ सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ।। 7.96.18 ।।
imau tu jānakīputrāvubhau ca yamajātakau | sutau tavaiva durdharṣau satyametadbravīmi te || 7.96.18 ||
Translation
"These two, both sons of Janaki and born as twins, are your own invincible sons; this truth I declare to you."
प्रचेतसो ऽहं दशमः पुत्रो राघवनन्दन । न स्मराम्यनृतं वाक्यमिमौ तु तव पुत्रकौ ।। 7.96.19 ।।
pracetaso 'haṃ daśamaḥ putro rāghavanandana | na smarāmyanṛtaṃ vākyamimau tu tava putrakau || 7.96.19 ||
Translation
"I, O delight of the Raghus, am the tenth son of Prachetas, and I do not recall ever having uttered a false word; these two are indeed your sons."
बहुवर्षसहस्राणि तपश्चर्या मया कृता । नोपाश्नीयां फलं तस्या दुष्टेयं यदि मैथिली ।। 7.96.20 ।।
bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi tapaścaryā mayā kṛtā | nopāśnīyāṃ phalaṃ tasyā duṣṭeyaṃ yadi maithilī || 7.96.20 ||
Translation
"For many thousands of years has austerity been practiced by me; may I not reap the fruit of that penance if Maithili here is impure."
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा भूतपूर्वं न किल्बिषम् । तस्याः फलमुपाश्नीयामपापा मैथिली यदि ।। 7.96.21 ।।
manasā karmaṇā vācā bhūtapūrvaṃ na kilbiṣam | tasyāḥ phalamupāśnīyāmapāpā maithilī yadi || 7.96.21 ||
Translation
"If never before, in thought, deed, or word, have I committed any sin, may I reap the fruit of that penance only if Maithili is free from fault."
अहं पञ्चसु भूतेषु मनष्षष्ठेषु राघव । विचिन्त्य सीतां शुद्धेति जग्राह वननिर्झरे ।। 7.96.22 ।।
ahaṃ pañcasu bhūteṣu manaṣṣaṣṭheṣu rāghava | vicintya sītāṃ śuddheti jagrāha vananirjhare || 7.96.22 ||
Translation
"By the five elements, with the mind as the sixth, O Raghava, having pondered and found Sita pure, I received her at the forest spring."
इयं शुद्धसमाचारा अपापा पतिदेवता । लोकापवादभीतस्य प्रत्ययं तव दास्यति ।। 7.96.23 ।।
iyaṃ śuddhasamācārā apāpā patidevatā | lokāpavādabhītasya pratyayaṃ tava dāsyati || 7.96.23 ||
Translation
"This woman, pure in conduct, sinless, and devoted to her husband as to a god, will give proof of her purity to you who fear the slander of the world."
तस्मादियं नरवरात्मज शुद्धभावा दिव्येन दृष्टिविषयेण तदा प्रविष्टा । लोकापवादकलुषीकृतचेतसा या त्यक्ता त्वया प्रियतमा विदिता ऽपि शुद्धा ।। 7.96.24 ।।
tasmādiyaṃ naravarātmaja śuddhabhāvā divyena dṛṣṭiviṣayeṇa tadā praviṣṭā | lokāpavādakaluṣīkṛtacetasā yā tyaktā tvayā priyatamā viditā 'pi śuddhā || 7.96.24 ||
Translation
"Therefore, O son of the best of men, this woman of pure heart then entered the range of my divine sight; she whom you, your mind clouded by the slander of the world, abandoned, though she was your most beloved and known by you to be pure."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे षण्णवतितमः सर्गः ।। 96 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe ṣaṇṇavatitamaḥ sargaḥ || 96 ||
Translation
Thus ends the ninety-sixth canto in the venerable Uttara Kanda of the sacred Ramayana, the first poem, composed by the seer Valmiki.