Vasishṭha Sītā Dakshiṇā
This episode comes at the end of Bhagavān Rāma’s Aśvamedha Yajña (a great horse yajña) in the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa. After the avabṛtha snāna (the final bath of the yajña) on Rāma Navamī, the maharshi Vasishṭha asked for Sītā herself as his dakshiṇā (the gift to the priest), and not Kāmadhenu. Bhagavān Rāma gave her without any delay, in front of the whole court. Vasishṭha then gave Sītā back in return for her weight in gold, and told Rāma seven things he must never give away.
Vasishṭha thinks it over
After the avabṛtha snāna at Rāma-tīrtha on Rāma Navamī, Bhagavān Rāma gave rich dakshiṇā to the ṛtviks (the priests of the yajña). He gave cows adorned with gold, lands, horses and elephants. Then he got ready to give Kāmadhenu herself, dressed in ornaments, to Vasishṭha. The maharshi stopped and thought:
“I already have Nandinī, Kāmadhenu’s own daughter. What use will a second wish-fulfilling cow be to me? This gift would be wasted. I will do something that has never been done. I will ask for Sītā, adorned, as my dakshiṇā. In this way I will show the world Rāma’s generosity, and through Sītā’s tulābhāra (weighing against gold) the real gift will be gold. This will make Rāma’s fame flow across the world.”
Vasishṭha’s request
Vasishṭha said to Rāma, “Why do you offer me Kāmadhenu? She cannot satisfy me. If you truly wish to give me a gift, give me Sītā, adorned. She alone will satisfy me. No other woman, however great, will do.”
The crowd was stunned. People whispered, “What madness has come over Vasishṭha Muni?” “Has the great guru lost his mind?” “He is making some special test.” “He is testing Rāghava’s courage.” “What will Rāma do?” All work stopped. The ṛtviks, Rāma, Sītā and the munis sat in silence.
Rāma agrees
Rāma heard his guru’s words and smiled. With a sign of his hand he called Sītā to his side. He took her left hand in his own, and with Sītā beside him he offered her to Vasishṭha. He said the strī-dāna mantra before the whole assembly, and Vasishṭha accepted her.
At that moment all creation, moving and unmoving, was filled with wonder. The Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa says that such a deha-dāna (a gift of one’s own person) had never been made by anyone at any time.
Sītā behind Vasishṭha
Vasishṭha turned to Sītā and said, “Dear girl, stand behind me. Rāma has given you to me. I look on you as my daughter.”
Sītā never broke her pativratā-dharma (the duty of a faithful wife). Her mind was confused and her eyes were filling with tears. She glanced to her left, then went and sat nervously behind the muni. Rāma then offered Kāmadhenu as well, and Vasishṭha accepted her too.
The tulābhāra and the seven things never to be given
Vasishṭha then told Rāma why he had asked. “Rāma, mighty-armed one! I asked for your noble wife only to show the world your great generosity and your courage in dāna (giving). By my word she is now given back. But first weigh her in gold, with eight full sets of ornaments, and give me that gold as my true dakshiṇā. Take Sītā back as my blessing to you.”
Vasishṭha also named seven things that Rāma must never give as dāna:
- Kāmadhenu
- Cintāmaṇi
- Sītā
- The Kaustubha gem
- The Pushpaka vimāna
- The city of Ayodhyā
- The kingdom of Ayodhyā
Vasishṭha said, “If you ever give any of these seven, you will have broken my ājñā (command). You will suffer great distress from the dosha (fault) of breaking it. All other things you may give freely to brāhmaṇas, without any hesitation.”
Rāma agreed at once. Sītā was weighed in gold with eight sets of jewelled ornaments (ashṭavāra-alaṅkāra), and the gold was given to Vasishṭha. Then Vasishṭha, with a gentle smile, gave Sītā back to Rāma. She now wore no ornaments, only a plain cloth.
The response of the devas
The moment Sītā returned to Rāma’s side, music rang out from every direction and flowers fell from the sky. The deva-strīs (the women of the devas) were watching from their vimānas (flying chariots). They were filled with joy for Sītā, and they took the ornaments from their own bodies and gave them to her. In this way she was adorned more fully and more richly than before.
All the people rejoiced. Sītā stood by Rāma, lost in ānanda (joy), with a gentle smile and a slight blush of happiness.
Sources
- Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Yāga Khaṇḍa, Sarga 8 (Chapter 8)