1. shrutvaa= hearing; uktaa= (the words) spoken; evam= thus; saroSheNa= with indignation; paruSham= and harshness; raaghaveNa= by Rama; roma harShaNam= which caused her hair to stand on end; vaidehii= Seetha; abhavat= became; pravyathitaa= very much perturbed.

2. shrutvaa= hearing; ghoram= the terrific; vachaH= words; bhartuH= of her husband; ashruta puurvam= which were never heard by her before; mahati jane= amidst a large gathering of people; saa maithilii= that Seetha; tadaa= at that time; abhavat= became; avanataa= downcast; lajjayaa= with shame.

3. svaani gaatraaNi iva= as though her own limbs; pravishanti= were pierced; taiH vaaksharaiH= by those arrow-like words; sashalyena= with pointed splinters; saa janakaatmaaa= that Seetha; aavartayat= shed; ashruuNi= tears; bhR^isham= profusely.

4. tataH= then; pramarjantii= wiping clean; swam aananam= her face; baaShpa pariklinnam= which was bathed in tears; abraviit= (she) spot; dam= the following words; sharaiH= slowly; bhartaaram= to her husband; gadgadayaa vaachaa= in a stammering voice.

5. viira= O valiant one!; kim= why; shraarayase= are you causing me to hear; iidR^isham= such; ruukSham vaakyam= harsh words; shrotra daaruNam= which are violent to hear; maam= for me; praakR^itaH iva= like a common man; praakR^itaam= (speaking) to a common woman?

6. mahaabaaho= O the long-armed one!; na asmi= I am not; yathaa tathaa= the one in the way; avagachchhasi= you understand; maam= me; gachha= pick up; pratyayam= a trust; me= in me; shape= I swear; te= to you; svena chaaritreNa= by my own character.

7. prachaareNa= by the conduct; pR^ithak striiNaam= of vulgar women; tvam= you; parishaN^kase= distrust; jaatim= the entire race of women; parityaja= give up; enaam= this; shaN^kaam= doubt; yadi aham= if; I; pariikShitaa= have been actually tested (and found trustworthy); te= by you.

8. prabho= O lord!; na it was not; me kaamakaaraH= my willfulness; iti yat= that; gataa asmi= when I came; gaatra samsparsham= into contact; (with the person of Ravana); aham vivashaa= I was helpless; daivam= my (adverse) fate; aparaadhyati= was to blame; tatra= on that score.

9. me hR^idayam tu= my heart on its part; yat tat= which was; madadhiinam= subservient to me; vartate= was abiding; tvayi= in you; kim= what; kariShyaami= could I do; aniishvarii= helpless as I was; gaatreShu= aniishvarii= helpless as I was; gaatreShu= with regard to my limbs; paraadhiineShu= with regard to my limbs; paraadhiineShu= which had fallen under the sway of another?

10. maanada= O bestower of honour; aham na vijJNataa yadi te= If I could not be fully known to you; sahasamvR^iddha bhaavena samsargeNa cha= in spite of our love having simultaneously grown and despite of our having lived together; hataa asmi= I am ruined; shaashvatam= permanently; tena= by such ignorance.

11. rajaa= O king!; mahaaviiraH= the great hero; hanumaan= Hanuma; preShitaH= was sent; te= by you; avalokakaH= as your search-agent; kim= why; aham= I; laN^kaasthaa= who was still in Lankaa; na visarjitaa= was not abandoned; tadaa= then itself?

12. viira= O hero! jiivitam= life; syaat tyaktam= would have been given up; mayaa= by me; samtyaktayaa= when deserted; tvayaa= by you; tadvaakya samanantaram= immediately on hearing the message (conveying your desertion); asya vaanarasya pratyakSham= before the eyes of this monkey.

13. ayam vR^ithaa shramaH= this wasteful endeavour; (in the form of crossing over to Lanka and waging war against the mighty Ravana); nyasya= keeping; jiivitam= your life; samshaye= in jeopardy; nasyaat= would not have been there; na cha= nor; ayam tava suhR^ijjana viphalaH parikleshaH= would have your friends have been put to such fruitless hardship.

14. nR^ipa shaarduula= O excellent king; tvayaa tu= you, however; puraskR^itam= gave priority; striitvameva= to woman liness; laghunaa manuShyeNa iva= like a feeble man; anuvartataa= conforming; roShameva= to just an emotion of anger.

15. vR^ittajJNaH= O knower of virtuous conduct!; utpattiH= my birth; janakaat= was from Janaka; apadesheva= in disguise; vasudhaatalaat= but was actually from the earth; mama= my; vR^ittam cha= sacred birth; bahu= of a high degree; na puraskR^itam= was not honoured; te= by you.

16. mama paaNiH= my hand; nipiiDitaH= taken (as a bride by you); baalye= in our childhood; na pramaaNiikR^itaH= was not recognized; mama= my; bhaktishcha= devotion; shiilam cha= my chastity; sarvam= all; pR^iShThataH kR^itam= have been ignored; te= by you.

17. siitaa= Seetha; iti= thus; bruvantii= speaking; rudatii= weaping; baaShpa gadgadabhaaShiNii= and stammering with tears; uvaacha= said; lakShmaNam= to Lakshmana; diinam= who was sad; dhyaana paraayaNam= and engaged in thoughtfulness.

18. saumitre= O Lakshmana!; kuru= create; chitaam= a pile of fire; me= for me; bheShajam= which is a remedy; asya vyasanasya= for this trouble; aham mithyaapavaadopahataa= smitten as I am with false blames; na utsahe= (I) no longer wish; jiivitum= to survive.

19. pravekShyaami= I will enter; havyavaahanam= a fire; gantum= to obtain; gatiH= a course; yaa kShamaa= which is appropriate; me= for me; tyaktaayaH= who has been jana samsadi= amidst an assembly of men; bhartraa= by me husband;apriitena= who was not satisfied; guNaiH= with my traits.

20. evam= thus; uktaH= spoken; vaidehyaa= by Seetha; lakShmaNaH= Lakshmana; para viirahaa= the destroyer of enemy-warriors; aapannaH amarSvaa vasham= who gave way to wrath; samudaikShata= looked; raaghavam= towards Rama.

21. vijJNaaya= understanding; manashchandam= the inclination of the mind; raamasya= of Rama; aakaara suuchitam= hinted by the expression in his face; saH viiryavaan= that valiant; saumitriH= Lakshmana; chakaara= prepared; chitaam= a pyre; raamasya mte= in deference to the wishes of Rama's.

22. na kashchit suhR^it= no one near and dear; ashakat hi= was indeed able; anuvetum= to cajole; tadaa= on that occasion; atho= or; vaktum= to speak; draShTum va api= or even to look upon; raamam= Rama; kaalaantakayamopamam= who appeared like Yama the lord of death at the time of dissolution of the world.

23. tataH= thereupon; vaidehii= Seetha; pradakShiNam kR^itvaa= doing circumambulation; raamam= to Rama; sthitam athomukham= standing with his head bent low Rama; upaavartata= went towards; diiptamaanam= the blazing; hutaashanam= fire.

24. praNamya= having offered salutation; daivebhyashcha= to gods; braahmaNebhyashcha= and Brahmins; baddhaaN^jalipuTaa= as also having joined her palms; agni samiipataH= in the vicinity of the fire; maithilii= Seetha; uvaacha= spoke; idam= the following words:

25. yathaa= as; me= my; hR^idayam= heart; naapasarpati nityam= never moves off; raaghavaat= from Rama; tathaa= so; paavakaH= let the fire-god; lokasya saakShii= the witness of the world; paatu= protect; maam= me; sarvataH= from all sides.

26. yathaa= as; raaghavaH; Rama; jaanaati= apprehends; maam= me; shuddha charitaam= though of unimpeachable conduct; duShTaam= to be spoilt; paavakaH= let the fire-god; lokasya saakShii= the witness of the world; paatu= protect; maam= me; sarvataH= from all sides.

27. yathaa= as; aham= I; naaticharaami= have never been unfaithful; karmaNaa= in act; manasaa= thought; vaachaa= and speech; raaghavam= to Rama; sarvadharmajJNam= who knows all the virtues; tathaa= so; paavakaH= let the fire-god; paatu= protect; maam= me.

28. yathaa= since; bhagavaan= the adorable; aadityaH= sun-god; vaayuH= wind-god; dishaH= the four quarters; tathaiva cha= and even so; chandraH= the moon-god; aashchaapi= as also the deity presiding over the day-time; tathaa= and; samdhye= the twilights; raatrishcha= and the night; tathaa= and; pR^ithivii= the earth; anyo.api= and even others; vijaananti= know (me); chaaritra samyutaam= to be endowed with good conduct; tathaa= so; (let the fire-god protect me).

29. evam= thus; uktvaa= speaking; vaidehii= Seetha; parikramya= walking around; hutaashanam= the fire-god; antaraatmanaa= mind; niH shaN^kena= free from hesitation; vivesha= entered; diiptam jvalanam= the blazing fire.

30. sumahaan janashcha= a large gathering of men; baala vR^iddha samaakulaH= including children and elders; dadarsha= saw; diiptaam= the shining; maithiliim= Seetha; pravishantiim= having entered; hutaashanam= the fire; tatra= there.

31. saa= that Seetha; taptanava hemaabhaa= having a shining of fresh refined gold; tapta kaaN^chana bhuuShaNaa= and decked with ornaments of refined gold; papaata= plunged; diiptam jvalnnam= into the blazing fire; sarvalopasya samnidhau= in the presence of all people.

32. sarvaaNi= all; ruupaaNi= the living beings; dadR^ishuH= saw; tadaa= then; taam vishaalaakShiim siitaam= that wide-eyed Seetha; rukavedi nibhaam= and looking like a sacrificial altar made of gold; patantiim= who was plunging; havya vaahanam= into the fire.

33. kR^itsnaaH= the entire; trayaH= three; lokaaH= kinds of people (viz. Sages, gods and Gandharvas); dadR^ishuH= saw; taam mahaabhaagaam siitaam= that illustrious Seetha; pravishantiim= entering; hutaashanam= the fire; puNyaam aajyaahutiimiva= as a sacred oblation of clarified butter.

34. sarvaaH= all; striyaH= the women; prachukrushuH= screamed; dR^iShTvaa= on seeing; taam= her; patantiim= rushing; havyavaahane= into the fire; dharaamiva= like a gush; samskR^itaam vasoH= of clarified butter; adhvare= plunging into sacrificial fire; mantraiH= duly consecrated with Vedic hymns.

35. trayaH= the three; lokaaH= worlds; devagandharva daanavaaH= the gods, Gandharvas and demons; dadR^ishuH= beheld; taam= her; devataami va= as a goddess; patantiim= rushing; shaptaam niraye= into a cursed hell; tridivaat= from heaven.

36. tasyaam= while she; vishantyaam= was entering deeply; agnim= into the fire; vipulaH svanaH= a loud sound; adbhutopamaH= which appeared strange; haa haa iti= uttering 'Alas, Alas'; sambabhuuva= rose; rakShasaam vaanaraaNaam cha= from both the demons and the monkeys alike.