---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 97"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-97"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 97

> रामो बहून्यहान्येव तद् गीतं परमं शुभम्।  
> शुश्राव मुनिभिः सार्धं पार्थिवैः सह वानरैः॥ १॥

For many days Śrī Rāma, together with the ascetics, kings and monkeys, heard that wonderful song of holy content. (1)

> तस्मिन् गीते तु विज्ञाय सीतापुत्रौ कुशीलवौ।  
> तस्याः परिषदो मध्ये रामो वचनमब्रवीत्॥ २॥

Having known through that song, Lava and Kuśa as the sons of Sītā, Śrī Rāma spoke in that assembly of sages, kings and monkeys. (2)

> दूतान् शुद्धसमाचारानाहूयात्ममनीषया।  
> मद् वचो ब्रूत गच्छध्वमितो भगवतोऽन्तिके॥ ३॥

Having called envoys of pure conduct, and contemplating inwardly, said to them: “Go to the venerable Ṛṣi Vālmīki and convey to him my words ! (3)

> यदि शुद्धसमाचारा यदि वा वीतकल्मषा।  
> करोत्विहात्मनः शुद्धिमनुमान्य महामुनिम्॥ ४॥

“If she (Sītā) is pure of conduct, if any of the sins do not dwell in her, then may she prove her purity here at the bidding of the great sage Vālmīki. (4)

> छन्दं मुनेश्च विज्ञाय सीतायाश्च मनोगतम्।  
> प्रत्ययं दातुकामायास्ततः शंसत मे लघु॥ ५॥

“Having known the wish of the sage and Sītā’s willingness to give proof of her purity, let me know at once. (5)

> श्वः प्रभाते तु शपथं मैथिली जनकात्मजा।  
> करोतु परिषन्मध्ये शोधनार्थं ममैव च॥ ६॥

“Let Maithilī (Sītā), the daughter of Janaka, take oath in front of this assembly to remove blemishes from me also tomorrow morning.” (6)

> श्रुत्वा तु राघवस्यैतद् वचः परममद्भुतम्।  
> दूताः सम्प्रययुर्बाढं यत्र वै मुनिपुङ्गवः॥ ७॥

Hearing these wonderful words of Śrī Rāma, the descendant of Raghu, envoys nodding ascent, went to the place where the great sage Vālmīki stayed. (7)

> ते प्रणम्य महात्मानं ज्वलन्तममितप्रभम्।  
> ऊचुस्ते रामवाक्यानि मृदूनि मधुराणि च॥ ८॥

Having saluted the noble one of inimitable lustre and resplendent, they spoke the words of Śrī Rāma, soft and sweet. (8)

> तेषां तद् भाषितं श्रुत्वा रामस्य च मनोगतम्।  
> विज्ञाय सुमहातेजा मुनिर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्॥ ९॥

Having heard their words, and knowing the intention of Śrī Rāma, the very powerful sage spoke thus: (9)

> एवं भवतु भद्रं वो यथा वदति राघवः।  
> तथा करिष्यते सीता दैवतं हि पतिः स्त्रियाः॥ १०॥

“So be it, welfare be with you, Sītā will do as desired by Śrī Rāma, as husband is indeed a god for the wife.” (10)

> तथोक्ता मुनिना सर्वे राजदूता महौजसम्।  
> प्रत्येत्य राघवं सर्वं मुनिवाक्यं बभाषिरे॥ ११॥

Thus spoken to by the sage, all the royal envoys, coming back, repeated all that the sage had said, to mighty Rāma. (11)

> ततः प्रहृष्टः काकुत्स्थः श्रुत्वा वाक्यं महात्मनः।  
> ऋषींस्तत्र समेतांश्च राज्ञश्चैवाभ्यभाषत॥ १२॥

Then Śrī Rāma, the scion of Kakutstha, highly pleased on hearing the words of Vālmīki, the noble one, addressed the sages and also the kings assembled there: (12)

> भगवन्तः सशिष्या वै सानुगाश्च नराधिपाः।  
> पश्यन्तु सीताशपथं यश्चैवान्योऽपि कांक्षते॥ १३॥

‘Venerable sages, with pupils and kings with attendants or anyone else, so desiring, may witness the oath-taking of Sītā. (13)

> तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः।  
> सर्वेषामृषिमुख्यानां साधुवादो महानभूत्॥ १४॥

Hearing those words of the noble descendant of Raghu, all the chief sages exclaimed ‘well done.’ (14)

> राजानश्च महात्मानं प्रशंसन्ति स्म राघवम्।  
> उपपन्नं नरश्रेष्ठ त्वय्येव भुवि नान्यतः॥ १५॥

The noble kings praised indeed the descendant of Raghu thus: ‘O best among men, this behoves you only, and no one else.’ (15)

> एवं विनिश्चयं कृत्वा श्वोभूत इति राघवः।  
> विसर्जयामास तदा सर्वांस्ताञ्छत्रुसूदनः॥ १६॥

Thus deciding that the oath-taking shall take place tomorrow, then the descendant of Raghu, the extirpator of foes, discharged the assembly. (16)

> इति सम्प्रविचार्य राजसिंहः  
> श्वोभूते शपथस्य निश्चयम्।  
> विससर्ज मुनीन् नृपांश्च सर्वान्  
> स महात्मा महतो महानुभावः॥ १७॥

That lion among kings, the great and next day, allowed all noble ones to leave. (17)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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