Sāramā

Sāramā was the faithful wife of Vibhīṣaṇa, king of Laṅkā. While Sītā was held captive in Rāvaṇa’s Laṅkā, Sāramā showed great kindness to her in the Aśoka grove. After the war in Laṅkā, when Bhagavān Rāma came to Laṅkā with Bharata and Sugrīva, Sāramā welcomed him with honour. She told him of Sītā’s sufferings and of the care she herself had shown her.

Who she was

Sāramā was born in the rākṣasī line, as fitted the wife of Vibhīṣaṇa, a rākṣasa lord of Laṅkā. Even so, she had the qualities of dharma: deep kindness, truthfulness, and the courage to act with kindness in the hostile setting of Rāvaṇa’s court.

Kindness to Sītā

Sītā was shut up in the Aśoka grove, threatened and in deep distress. Sāramā came to her with kindness. She gave her comfort and company, and in every way she could, she eased Sītā’s suffering. The Rāmāyaṇa tradition honours Sāramā for this. She was a voice of compassion inside the enemy kingdom, and she protected Sītā by her own courage and good will.

Welcoming Bhagavān Rāma after the war

After the war Bhagavān Rāma returned to Laṅkā on his tour with Bharata and Sugrīva. Sāramā was there to receive him. She spoke to Bhagavān Rāma about Sītā: about the suffering she had seen, and about her own care for Sītā in those hard months. Her words were an eyewitness account of Sītā’s trial and of the kindness shown to her. Bhagavān Rāma honoured Sāramā for her care of Sītā.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 38