वाल्मीकिनैवमुक्तस्तु राघवः प्रत्यभाषत। प्राञ्जलिर्जगतो मध्ये दृष्ट्वा तां वरवर्णिनीम्॥
After the great Rșis Vālmīki had said this, Rāma, on beholding the daughter of Janaka resembling a celestial, in the midst of the assembly, with folded hands, said.
एवमेतन्महाभाग यथा वदसि धर्मवित्। प्रत्ययस्तु मम ब्रह्मस्तव वाक्यैरकल्मषैः॥
O great one, you are conversant with piety. By your words shorn of sin, I have been convinced that Janaki is of pure ways. Still, O Brāhmaṇa, what you have commanded shall be carried out; let Sītā produce testimony of the purity of her character.
प्रत्ययश्च पुरा वृत्तो वैदेह्याः सुरसंनिधौ। शपथश्च कृतस्तत्र तेन वेश्म प्रवेशिता ॥
Because Vaidehi formerly underwent a trial in the city of Lankā before the celestials I brought her home.
लोकापवादो बलवान्येन त्यक्ता हि मैथिली। सेयं लोकभयाद्ब्रह्मनपापेत्यभिजानता। परित्यक्ता मया सीता तद्भवान्क्षन्तुमर्हति ॥
O Brāhmaṇa, vilification of the people is very powerful. Although I know that Jānaki has not been touched by any sin still I have renounced her. Do you therefore forgive me.
जानामि चेमौ पुत्रौ मे यमजातौ कुशीलवौ। शुद्धायां जगतो मध्ये मैथिल्यां प्रीतिरस्तु मे॥
I know that these twin brothers Kusa and Lava are my sons. Yet if Janaki gives evidence of her own purity before the assembly I shall be greatly satisfied.
अभिप्रायं तु विज्ञाय रामस्य सुरसत्तमाः। सीतायाः शपथे तस्मिन्सर्व एव समागताः॥
Being apprised of Rama's intention as to Sītā's trial the celestials all came there on the occasion.
पितामहं पुरस्कृत्य सर्व एव समागताः। आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा विश्वेदेवा मरुद्गणाः॥ साध्याश्च देवाः सर्वे ते सर्वे च परमर्षयः। नागाः सुपर्णाः सिद्धाश्च ते सर्वे हृष्टमानसाः।।।।।
The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvadeva, Maruts, Sadhyas, Siddhas, Nagas, and Rsis placing Brahmā before them, all came there.
दृष्ट्वा देवानृषींश्चैव राघवः पुनरब्रवीत्। प्रत्ययो मे नरश्रेष्ठ ऋषिवाक्यैरकल्मषैः।।।।। शुद्धायां जगतो मध्ये वैदेह्यां प्रीतिरस्तु मे। सीताशपथसंभ्रान्ताः सर्व एव समागताः॥
And beholding the celestials and Rșis assembled there Rama again said to Vālmīki:-O foremost of Munis, the words, of the highsouled Rsis, are divested of sin; therefore on your words only I shall consider Sītā as having pure ways. Still all have come here being anxious to witness Sītā's trial. I shall therefore be greatly delighted if Janaki gives in before them any testimony of her pure character.
ततो वायुः शुभः पुण्यो दिव्यगन्धो मनोरमः। तं जनौघं सुरश्रेष्ठो ह्रादयामास सर्वतः॥ तद्भुतमिवाचिन्त्यं निरैक्षन्त समाहिताः। मानवाः सर्वराष्ट्रेभ्यः पूर्वं कृतयुगे यथा॥
As soon as those words were uttered, sweet, fragrant, cold air, the witness of virtue and vice, blowing mildly, excited the joy of the assembly. People, hailing from various countries, with all attention began to witness this wondrous and unthought of event. In the golden age only the celestial wind used to blow, and it now blew even in the Tretā Yuga and forsooth it was a matter of exceeding surprise.
सर्वान्समागतान्दृष्ट्वा सीता काषायवासिनी। अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमधोदृष्टिरवाङ्मुखी॥
There upon beholding all people assembled there, Janaka's daughter, wearing a red cloth, with her face and looks downwards and folded palms said.
यथाहं राघवादन्यं मनसापि न चिन्तये। तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति ॥
I have never thought of any other person in my mind but Rāma; by the strength of this virtue let the goddess Vasundharā give me room.
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा यथा रामं समर्चये। तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति॥
I have always with my mind, body and words prayed for Rāma's well-being and by virtue hereof may the goddess Vasundhară give me room in her womb.
यथैतत्सत्यमुक्तं मे वेद्मि रामात्परं न च। तथा मे माधवी देवी विवरं दातुमर्हति॥
I have never thought for other than Răma. If it is true, may the goddess Vasundhară give me room in her womb.
तथा शपन्त्यां वैदेह्या प्रादुरासीत्तदद्भुतम्। भूतलादुत्थितं दिव्यं सिंहासनमनुत्तमम्॥
As soon as Sītā swore in this wise a wonderful incident took place. From inside the earth a celestial and excellent throne rose up.
ध्रियमाणं शिरोभिस्तु नागैरमितविक्रमैः। दिव्यं दिव्येन वपुषा दिव्यरत्नविभूषितैः॥
It was carried on head by the Nāgas of unmitigated prowess, having celestial persons and adorned with celestial jewels and ornaments.
तस्मिंस्तु धरणी देवी बाहुभ्यां गृह्य मैथिलीम्। स्वागतेनाभिनन्द्यैनामासने चोपवेशयत्॥
Having stretched out her arms and taken Maithilī, the goddess earth welcomed her and placed her on the throne.
तामासनगतां दृष्ट्वा प्रविशन्ती रसातलम्। पुष्पवृष्टिरविच्छिन्ना दिव्या सीतामवाकिरत्॥
And while seated on the throne she was entering the earth, she was covered with the continued showers of celestial flowers.
साधुकारश्च सुमहान्देवानां सहसोत्थितः। साधुसाध्विति वै सीते यस्यास्ते शीलमीदृशम्।।२१ एवं बहुविधा वाचो ह्यन्तरिक्षगताः सुराः। व्याजहुर्राष्टमनसो दृष्ट्वा सीताप्रवेशनम्॥
Eulogising her at that time, the celestials said: Oh! highly praiseworthy is your conduct, O Sītā. Being present in the welkin and beholding Sītā enter into the Earth, the celestials again and again eulogised her in various words.
यज्ञवाटगताश्चापि मुनयः सर्व एव ते। राजानश्च नरव्याघ्रा विस्मयानोपरेमिरे॥
The Rşis, kings and other leading men present in the sacrificial arena repeatedly expressed their surprise.
अन्तरिक्षे च भूमौ च सर्वे स्थावरजङ्गमाः। दानवाश्च महाकायाः पाताले पनगाधिपाः॥
Beholding Sita's censure thus removed all animals, animate or inanimate, either on earth or in the sky, were greatly delighted.
केचिद्विनेदुः संहृष्टाः केचिद्ध्यानपरायणाः। केचिद्रामं निरीक्षन्ते केचित्सीतामचेतसः॥
Some cried aloud in joy, some remained silent, and some motionless espied Rāma or Sītā.
सीताप्रवेशनं दृष्ट्वा तेषामासीत्समागमः। तन्मुहूर्तमिवात्यर्थं समं संमोहितं जगत्॥
In this wise beholding Sītā's entrance into the Earth the ascetics were greatly delighted. They all attaining to the same state of mind, the whole universe, for a moment, was possessed with the state of equality.