Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 9: Sītā Requests Rāma to Give up His Weapons
Text 3.9.1
सुतीक्ष्णेनाभ्यनुज्ञातं प्रस्थितं रघुनन्दनम्।
हृद्यया स्निग्धया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्॥
sutīkṣṇenābhyanujñātaṁ prasthitaṁ raghu-nandanam
hṛdyayā snigdhayā vācā bhartāram idam abravīt
sutīkṣṇena abhyanujñātam = with the permission of Sutīkṣṇa; prasthitam = departed; raghu-nandanam = when the beloved of the Raghus; hṛdyayā = in a pleasing; snigdhayā = and affectionate; vācā = voice; bhartāram = to her husband; idam = the following; abravīt = Sītā-devī spoke.
When the beloved of the Raghus departed with the permission of Sutīkṣṇa, Sītā-devī spoke the following to her husband in a pleasing and affectionate voice.
In this chapter, the author states that Sītā-devī, the wife of a hero, noticed that her husband had taken up His bow and was ready [to attack the rākṣasas] with His weapons. She then conveyed to Him [her thoughts], “If You enter this place which is abundantly filled with rākṣasas, then there would be a conflict [between You and them]. Then we would be separated. Then You will become greatly distressed. So we should go to the forest after You have set aside these weapons.”
The sage had permitted Rāma to kill Rāvaṇa—ariṣṭaṁ gaccha panthānam: “Go on the path without any difficulty.” (Rāmāyaṇa 3.8.11)
Hṛdyayā indicates that Sītā-devī’s words would please the heart [of Lord Rāma] because they were rational. Snigdhayā indicates that they were [spoken] out of affection. It is thus stated that the following words of Sītā-devī were rooted in affection.
Though she had often seen Rāma promising the sages and always keeping His promises, she spoke the [following] words while thinking that when a hostility develops between the rākṣasas and her husband, He would become greatly distressed upon being separated from her. It is implied that she did so because she was blinded by love.
The author then states what she told [her husband].