''Alas, my husband, leave me not behind, Forbid me not from exile. Whether harsh Asceticism in the forest drear Or paradise my lot, either is bliss From thee not parted, Rama.
How can I, Guiding in thy dear steps my feet, grow tired Though journeying endlessly? as well might one Weary, who on a bed of pleasure lies.
The bramble-bushes in our common path, The bladed grasses and the pointed reeds Shall be as pleasant to me as the touch Of cotton or of velvet, being with thee.
And when the storm-blast rises scattering The thick dust over me, I, feeling then My dear one's hand, shall think that I am smeared With sandal-powder highly-priced.
Or when From grove to grove upon the grass I lie, In couches how is there more soft delight Or rugs of brilliant wool? The fruits of trees, Roots of the earth or leaves, whate'er thou bring,
Be it much or little, being by thy hands Gathered, I shall account ambrosial food, I shall not once remember, being with thee, Father or mother dear or my far home. Nor shall thy pains by my companionship Be greatened;—doom me not to parting, Rama.
For only where thou art is Heaven; 'tis Hell Where thou art not. O thou who know'st my love, If thou canst leave me, poison still is left To be my comforter. I will not bear Their yoke who hate thee. And if today I shunned Swift solace, grief at length would do its work With torments slow.
How should the broken heart That once has beaten on thine, absence endure Ten years and three to these and yet one more?"
So writhing in the fire of grief, she wound Her body about her husband, fiercely silent, Or sometimes wailed aloud; as a wild beast That maddens with the fire-tipped arrows, such Her grief ungovernable and like the streams Of fire from its stony prison freed, Her quick hot tears, or as when the whole river From new-culled lilies weeps,—those crystal brooks Of sorrow poured from her afflicted lids. And all the moonlight glories of her face Grew dimmed and her large eyes vacant of joy.
But he revived her with sweet words: "Weep not; If I could buy all heaven with one tear Of thine, Sita, I would not pay the price, My Sita, my beloved. Nor have I grown, I who have stood like God by nature planted High above any cause of fear, so suddenly Familiar with alarm.
Only I knew not Thy sweet and resolute courage, and for thee Dreaded the misery that sad exiles feel.
But since to share my exile and o'erthrow God first created thee, O Mithilan, Sooner shall high serenity divorce From the self-conquering heart, than thou from me Be parted.
Fixed I stand in my resolve Who follow ancient virtue and the paths Of the old perfect dead; ever my face Turns steadfast to that radiant goal, self-vowed Its sunflower.
To the drear wilderness I go. My father's stainless honour points me on, His oath that must not fail. This is the old Religion, brought from dateless ages down, Parents to honour and obey; their will Should I transgress, I would not wish to live. For how shall man with homage or with prayer Approach the distant Deity, yet scorn A present godhead, father, mother, sage? In these man's triple objects live, in these The triple world is bounded, nor than these Has all wide earth one holier thing. Large eyes, These therefore let us worship. Truth or gifts, Or Honour or liberal proud sacrifice, Nought equals the effectual force and pure Of worship filial done. This all bliss brings, Compels all gifts, compels harvests and wealth, Knowledge compels and children. All these joys And human boons great filial souls on earth Recovering here enjoy, and in that world Heaven naturally is theirs. But me whatever, In the strict path of virtue while he stands,
My father bids, my heart bids that. I go, But not alone, o'ercome by thy sweet soul's High courage.
O intoxicating eyes, O faultless limbs, go with me, justify The wife's proud name, partner in virtue, Love, Warm from thy great high-blooded lineage old Thy purpose springing mates with the pure strain Of Raghou's ancient house. O let thy large And lovely motion forestward make speed High ceremonies to absolve.
Heaven's joys Without thee now were beggarly and rude. Haste then, the Brahmin and the pauper feed And to their blessings answer jewels.
All Our priceless diamonds and our splendid robes, Our curious things, our couches and our cars, The glory and the eye's delight, do these Renounce, nor let our faithful servants lose Their worthy portion."
Sita, of that consent So hardly won sprang joyous, as on fire,
Disburdened of her wealth, lightly to wing
Into dim wood and wilderness unknown.''
Sri Aurobindo - Translations from Sanskrit - The Ramayana - 'The Wife'
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