Title:  How We Met:  Sita Describing Her Marriage to Rama

Author:  Krishna’s Mercy

Chapters/Essays:  13

Introduction:

Anasūyā, the wife of the famous sage Atri, had the wonderful opportunity to host Sītā Devī and her husband Lord Rāma at her hermitage many thousands of years ago.  For those familiar with Vedic traditions, Sītā and Rāma are known as two of the most celebrated divine figures, individuals worthy of eternal love, adoration, and respect.  Yet for even those who are not acquainted with the events of the Rāmāyaṇa, the incident of Sītā and Anasūyā’s meeting provides great insight into the innumerable issues, concerns, and worries that come up in this grand journey known as life.  Though Anasūyā was well-aware of the unique nature in which Sītā and Rāma’s marriage was arranged, she still made the most of the opportunity presented to her by asking Sītā to give her own accounts of the marriage.  How We Met consists of thirteen essays discussing the different verses found in the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki that constituted Sītā’s response to Anasūyā.  The essays cover a wide range of topics including marriage, romance, parenting, spirituality, the meaning of life, knowledge-acquiring processes, and most importantly, how one can go about achieving the highest transcendental pleasure, both in this life and the next.  These essays were independently composed, thus each one provides sufficient background information pertaining to the specific verse in question.  The chapters need not be read sequentially, though the ordering of the book matches the sequence of Sītā’s statements to Anasūyā.  Our humble obeisances are offered to all the Vaiṣṇavas, past, present, and future, and to all those who have been kind enough to peruse this work, which is a meager attempt to associate with the divine couple, Sītā Devī and Śrī Rāma.

--Krishna’s Mercy

Excerpt from Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa, Ch. 118, conversation between female sage Anasūyā and Sītā Devī

“I have heard, O Sītā, that your hand in marriage was won by the renowned Rāghava on the occasion of the self-choice ceremony [svayaṁvara]. O Maithilī, I wish to hear that story in detail. Therefore please narrate to me the entire sequence of events as you experienced them.” (118.24-25)

“Thus addressed by the pious lady, Sītā said to her, ‘Please hear me’, and then began to narrate the story of her marriage.”  (118.26)

“There was a chivalrous King of Mithila named Janaka, who was aware of the principles of religion.  He was following the prescribed duties of a kshatriya and properly ruling the world.”  (118.27)

“While he was tilling a field with a plow in his hand, it is said that I, the daughter of that king, arose from underneath the earth’s surface.”  (118.28)

“Janaka, who was engaged in throwing fistfuls of dirt to level the ground, became surprised upon seeing me, whose entire body was covered with dust.”  (118.29)

“Since he was childless, and due to affection for me, he placed me on his lap and said, “This is my child.”  Thus he developed feelings of love and affection for me.”  (118.30)

“Then a voice, sounding like a human being, was heard from the sky which said, ‘O king, this child is rightfully your daughter.’”  (118.31)

“Thereupon my father, the righteous King of Mithila, was greatly pleased. Obtaining me as his daughter, that ruler of men felt highly blessed and fortunate.” (118. 32)

“I was then placed under the care of the chief queen, the pious Sunayana. That highly-esteemed lady raised me with the love and affection of a mother.” (118.33)

“After seeing that I had reached an age suitable for giving me away to a proper husband in marriage, my father became overcome with fear and anxiety, like a man who was about to become poor.”  (118.34)

“Even if a father be like Indra himself on this earth, he obtains ill treatment from the people in general, both subordinates and superiors, if he keeps his daughter unmarried.”  (118.35)

“Realizing that this precarious situation was not too far off, the king became lost in an ocean of anxiety and could not cross it, like one who has no raft.” (118. 36)

“Knowing me to be one not born of any mother's womb, the king, after great thought, was unable to find a suitable husband for me.”  (118.37)

“After reflecting thus, this thought occurred to the wise king, 'I shall hold a svayaṁvara [self-choice ceremony] for my daughter’s marriage. ’” (118. 38)

“At the time of a great sacrifice performed by Dakṣa, with affection the very intelligent Varuṇa gave Devarāta an illustrious bow along with quivers which would never run out of arrows.”  (118.39)

“Incapable of being moved on account of its weight, the kings could not even dream of bending the bow.”  (118.40)

“Having obtained the bow, my truthful father first invited all the princes of the world to an assembly of great rulers of men, and spoke to them as such.”  (118.41)

“‘Whichever man is capable of lifting and stringing this bow will receive my daughter's hand in marriage. Of this there is no doubt.’” (118.42)

“Seeing that greatest of bows, which had the weight of a mountain, the kings offered their respects to it but then left on account of being unable to lift it.”  (118.43)

“After a long time, this Rāma, the highly effulgent descendant of the Raghu dynasty, having truth for His prowess, arrived along with His younger brother Lakṣmaṇa and the sage Viśvāmitra to see the sacrifice.” (118. 44)

“Having been well-received by my righteous father, Viśvāmitra spoke to him as follows regarding the two brothers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, both descendants of the Raghu dynasty.”  (118.45)

“‘These two sons of Daśaratha would like to see the bow. Please show that divine bow to Prince Rāma.’”  (118.46)

“Hearing the words of the vipra, my father brought the bow forward. Bending the bow in the twinkling of an eye and applying string to it, the mighty prince Rāma, who was full of valor, quickly drew the bow at full length.” (118.47-48)

“As Rāma drew the bow back fully, the force He applied caused the bow to break in half. The sound that resulted was as fierce and frightening as that of a falling thunderbolt.”  (118.49)

“Thereafter, my father, who was truthful to his promise, taking a jar of pure water and lifting it up, prepared to give me away to Rāma.” (118. 50)

“Though being offered to Rāma, I was not accepted by Him at the time, for He did not know the opinion of His father Daśaratha, the King of Ayodhyā.”  (118.51)

“Thereupon, after inviting my father-in-law, the elderly King Daśaratha, to Mithila and receiving his approval, my father gave me away to Rāma, the knower of the self.” (118. 52)

“And my father personally gave to Lakṣmaṇa for his wife my younger sister, the beautiful and chaste Ūrmilā.” (118.53)

“Thus I was given to Rāma at the time of the svayaṁvara [self-choice ceremony]. And ever since then, I have been devoted to my beloved husband, the foremost of those possessing strength.” (118.54)