For this reason the All-merciful spoke with seeming harshness. All the demonesses, when they heard it, began to make lamentation.
Sita bowed to her lord's command—pure as she was in thought, word and deed—and said, “Lakshman, be you the celebrant of this rite; show me the fire and be quick.” When Lakshman heard Sita's words, so full of detachment, discretion and piety, his eyes filled with tears and he clasped his hands in prayer, but could not speak a word to his lord. Seeing that Râma was displeased, he ran and kindled a fire with a quantity of wood that he brought. Sîtâ beheld the fierceness of the flame, but was glad of heart without a particle of fear. “If neither in thought, word or deed I have ever abandoned Râma or cherished any other, may the fire, which tests all men's actions, become as cooling as sandal-wood.”
Sita bowed to her lord's command—pure as she was in thought, word and deed—and said, “Lakshman, be you the celebrant of this rite; show me the fire and be quick.” When Lakshman heard Sita's words, so full of detachment, discretion and piety, his eyes filled with tears and he clasped his hands in prayer, but could not speak a word to his lord. Seeing that Râma was displeased, he ran and kindled a fire with a quantity of wood that he brought. Sîtâ beheld the fierceness of the flame, but was glad of heart without a particle of fear. “If neither in thought, word or deed I have ever abandoned Râma or cherished any other, may the fire, which tests all men's actions, become as cooling as sandal-wood.”