The Final Test of Sita's Purity

Together, they went to Maharshi Valmiki's ashram, where Sita awaited them. Rama, however, pretended not to notice his estranged wife and didn't even inquire about her well-being. His three brothers, on the other hand, respectfully touched Sita's feet, and she blessed them. Valmiki then expressed his wish for Sita to return to Ayodhya with her sons and live out her days in happiness. But Rama hesitated to bring Sita back to the palace, which surprised Valmiki. With the authority of his thousand years of penance, Valmiki attested to Sita's purity and unblemished character. Rama acknowledged her purity but confessed that he feared hearing any further criticism of her from his subjects. He found himself in a deep dilemma.

Lakshmana tried in vain to convince Rama to accept Sita back. He begged Sita for forgiveness, admitting that he had always carried the guilt of abandoning her in the forest. Sita, however, reassured him that she bore no resentment, understanding that he was only following her husband’s orders. She lamented that her husband remained indifferent to her, despite her unwavering loyalty. In her anguish, she cried out, "If I am chaste and loyal to my husband, O Mother Earth, take me into your embrace. If I have never strayed in thought or deed from my husband, O Mother, give me shelter in your lap."

The gods appeared in the sky to witness the fulfillment of Sita's words, as her purity was tested once more. Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed, and the earth cracked with a deafening sound. From the depths emerged the Earth goddess, seated on a divine throne coiled with serpents, to take Sita away. Everyone at the ashram stood helpless and terrified as the Earth goddess confirmed Sita’s purity, taking her into her lap. The gods showered flowers upon Sita. Moments later, the earth closed over her, and she was gone.

The environment returned to normal, but Sita was no longer present. Lava and Kusha began to cry, and Rama, unable to bear their grief, embraced his sons—the only living reminders of his faithful wife. It was only then that Rama truly felt the weight of his loss. With Sita gone, his will to live dwindled. He implored the Earth goddess to return Sita to him, but his plea went unanswered. He mourned, "Now, she will forever keep Sita with her, in this life and the afterlife."

Overcome with anger at his separation from Sita, Rama resolved to destroy all of creation—the earth, sky, mountains, and outer space. Seeing his turmoil, Lord Brahma immediately appeared and counseled him against defying the laws of nature. Brahma also assured Rama that he would be reunited with Sita in the afterlife. With this reassurance, Rama finally calmed down.

Rama and his sons returned to Ayodhya, which had been decorated like a bride. The townspeople warmly welcomed Rama, Lava, and Kusha, rejoicing that Ayodhya’s throne now had a successor. However, Rama remained indifferent to these celebrations, finding them hollow. Thereafter, tragedy struck repeatedly. Rama’s mother, Kaushalya, passed away, followed shortly by Sumitra and Kaikeyi. Consumed by grief, Rama no longer wished to rule, yet he had no choice but to face the responsibilities before him. Though he often longed to let go of his sorrow, he found himself unable to do so.