Sita's Test By Fire Poem by Neha Bansal

Sitting in Asoka vatika,

as the feral war had ended,

she waited for Rama

to free her from her year long captivity.

She dreamt of the day she first saw him

as she walked demurely

through the palace gardens

that surrounded the shrine of goddess Parvati.

Her body fragrant with

nagakesar and jasmine

and wrapped elegantly in the

ivory and gold saree that

reflected the morning sunlight

as the white lotus filled pools

radiate the lambent glow of the golden Sun.

There she saw him walking slowly

but self-assuredly with eyes of

the gentlest doe that contrasted those

fierce ones of the younger and fairer youth

and also of the Rishi she had known

since her childhood, accompanying him.

Enthralled she walked to the shrine

trying to calm her pounding heart,

ignoring that smile that got etched

in her thoughts, a smile that bloomed

a thousand sweet-scented tuberoses

and made her ache for the dark-skinned

unknown man in the strangest ways.

She tried to pray to the goddess

for marital bliss and a Siva like husband

But, could only visualise this man.



As the victory trumpets blew,

her reverie broke

and she found herself

still waiting under Asoka tree

When would Raghuvar come?

now her heart was beating wildly

why doesn't he come and get me?

As she felt a chill in her bones.

There, she saw Laxmana,

her heart filled with remorse

as she remembered her taunting

in Panchvati, when he refused to follow

the cry that was obviously a hoax.

He came to her with downcast eyes

and folded hands and before she

could convey her apologies,

spoke in an emotion-filled hoarse voice.

He told her how she had to pass

the test of fire as desired by her Lord

and prove her chastity to the people

Of Ayodhya and the entire world.

She had to prove that Ravan

didn't desecrate her and still

She was the flower worthy of

adorning an exalted altar.

Her heart cried in agony

but her eyes turned to stones

as she walked calmly

through the forest of leaping flames.

She emerged out unharmed

to the loud chants of devotees

who having witnessed a miracle

now sang paeans to her fidelity.

As she saw Rama, now openly crying

welcoming her with arms wide open

Her mind couldn't get rid of the image

of Siva carrying the charred corpse of Sati

and dancing his angry Tandava

as nothing soothed his excruciating pain.



- Neha Bansal