Sita, who was ever pure in thought and word and deed, bowed to her lord’s command and said, ‘Lakshmana, be sharer in this pious rite and prepare the fire forthwith.’

When Lakshmana heard Sita’s words, so full of desolation, discretion, piety and prudence, tears rushed to his eyes and he folded his palms in prayer but could not speak a word to his Lord.

Reading Rama’s tacit approval in his looks, Lakshmana ran and after kindling a fire, brought a heap of fire-wood. Sita rejoiced at heart to see the fiercely blazing flames, and felt no fear.

‘If in thought and word and deed,’ she said, ‘I have never set my heart on anyone other than Raghubira, may this Fire, who knows the thoughts of all, become as cooling as sandal-paste!’

With her thoughts fixed on the Lord, Janaki entered the flames as though they were cool like sandal-paste, saying, ‘Glory to the lord of Kosala, whose feet Mahadeva adores and for which I cherish the purest devotion!’ both her shadow-form as well as the stigma of public shame were consumed in the blazing fire; but no one understood the secret of the Lord’s doings. Even the gods, adepts and sages stood gazing in the heavens.

Then Fire assumed a bodily form and, taking by the hand the real Shri (Sita) famed alike in the Vedas and the world, escorted her and committed her to Rama, even as the Ocean of Milk committed Lakshmi to Lord Vishnu. Standing on the left side of Rama, she shone forth resplendent in her exquisite beauty like a golden lotus bud beside a blue lotus newly opened.

The gods in their delight showered down flowers and kettledrums sounded in the sky; Kinnaras sang their melodies and the celestial nymphs danced, all mounted on their celestial cars.