Act I

Scene I

(Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and a vast audience. Sita is weeping with joy.)

RAMA: Sita, my heart is overflowing with joy to see you again. But, Sita, to me Dharma, Divine Justice, is more important than my concern for you. You have stayed at the wicked Ravana's palace for several months. I am sure he has cast his lustful gaze on you. I am sure you are impure. My subjects will misunderstand me if I accept you now. Therefore, I am compelled to disown you. You must leave. You may go wherever you want to. Even if you want to have somebody else as the partner of your life, I will have no objection.

(Sita's tears become tears of grief.)

SITA: You speak like an ordinary human being, Rama. I thought that you were great, really great, but now I think that you are worse than any human being on earth. Can't you see with your occult vision whether or not I have lived an impure life at Ravana's palace? He tempted me with his wealth. He tried to force me to be his, but my inner strength protected and saved me. I wanted only you, and I still want only you, but now you discard me like a filthy rag. I am prepared to leave you, but before I leave, I wish to prove to you that I am Purity itself. I shall consign my body to fire and you will see what happens to me. (To Lakshmana.) Lakshmana, with all your heart's magnanimity you have helped me millions of times. You have listened to me millions of times. You have always considered me as your mother. Listen then to one final request. Please light a blazing fire for me. This is my last request, my last prayer to you.

LAKSHMANA: Mother, not a prayer, not a request, but a fatal command. Rama, what am I going to do now?

RAMA: You have always pleased her. Now please her this time, too.

SITA: I know that fire is the cosmic Reality and Rama is the cosmic Reality. If I come out of fire unburned, then the world will know that I was pure—Purity itself. And if I do not come out of the fire, then I will enter into the cosmic Reality, which is my Rama.

Scene Ii

(Lakshmana has lighted a blazing fire in the presence of a large audience.)

SITA: O Fire God, my husband Rama has every right to test me, and I have every right to prove to him that I was pure, I am pure and I forever shall remain pure. If I fail in this test, I shall go to my Divine Rama in Heaven. If I pass, I shall remain with my human Rama here on earth.

(Site walks slowly, steadily through the leaping flames and comes back to Rama. The all-consuming fire could do nothing to her. Her whole face is aglow. Rama receives Sita with all his love.)

RAMA: My Sita, the fire ordeal is over. The world now knows that you are Purity itself. You had the heart to prove yourself to my subjects. One part of my being wanted to please my subjects at your expense, with your sacrifice. It felt that the whole object of my stay on earth was to please them. Another part, which is divine, knew well that you were pure and felt that this was doing an injustice to you. But you and I are one. You have proved it. With your sacrifice you have shown your greatness before my subjects, and since we are one, you have made me great, also. What you have done for me and what we are doing for my subjects is right.

SITA: My Lord, you are right. You are always right. This existence of mine is only to please you, to prove to the world that I am only for you and that the illumination of the world depends only on your compassionate wisdom.

(Sita sings.)

Saphalhbabe swapan amar saphal habe

Samarpaner atma-hutir mahotsabe

Tomar hasi tomar banshi

Bijay ketan amar chetan

Amar bhabe nachbe jani

Amar bhabe

[My dream will be fulfilled

In the great festival of my surrender's

consecration-fire.

Your Smile, Your Flute,

Your Banner, Your Consciousness-Light,

In my world shall dance,

I know, I know.]