Gods and Dasharatha Vindicate Sita's Purity

Sita had fallen like a severed plantain tree, her face drained of the delight it had worn moments before. The monkeys stood motionless around her, as if dead. Lakshmana did not move. Rama had spoken, and his words had struck her down. Then the firmament changed. The sky, which had been empty, filled with light. Brahma, the four-faced creator, descended from a celestial chariot. Shakra (Indra) came with him, and Agni, Vayu, Yama, Varuna, the lord of the yakshas, and the seven sages. King Dasharatha arrived in a radiant form, astride a chariot drawn by swans, resplendent and expensive beyond measure. The heavens became crowded with gods and gandharvas, beautiful as an autumn sky studded with stars. Vaidehi (Sita) arose in their midst and spoke. She did not accuse Rama. She said: "I do not blame you, because I know the ways of women and of men. But listen to these words of mine." She called upon the elements that sustain all life — the air inside beings, fire, water, space, earth. If she had committed an evil act, she said, let them free her breath of life. A sacred voice spoke from the firmament, echoing in all directions. Vayu said: "O Raghava! This is the truth. I am the wind that is always in motion. Maithili is without taint. Unite with your wife." Agni said: "I am the wind that resides in the bodies of all beings. Maithili has not committed a crime, even in the slightest way." Varuna said: "The juices in the bodies of beings owe their existence to me. I am asking you to accept Maithili back." Then Brahma spoke. He told Rama that Ravana had been invincible to all beings through Brahma's own favour — but that Brahma had ignored him for a specific reason, waiting for his death. Ravana had abducted Sita for that death, but Brahma had protected her through Nalakubara's curse: if Ravana forced himself on any woman against her wishes, his head would shatter into a hundred fragments. "You should not have any doubt on this," Brahma said. "You are the equal of the gods and the immortals, and you have performed a great deed." Then Dasharatha spoke from his celestial chariot. "O son! I am pleased with you. I am your father Dasharatha. I grant you permission to rule the kingdom." Rama bowed. "On your instructions, I will go to Ayodhya." His father was delighted. "Go and rule Ayodhya." Rama was united with his wife, like Indra with Poulomi. He granted a boon to Avindhya, the aged adviser who had brought Sita before him, and honoured the rakshasi Trijata with riches. Then Brahma and all the gods asked what boons he desired. Rama chose three: devotion to dharma, victory over enemies, and revival of the monkeys who had been killed by the rakshasas. Brahma pronounced the words, and all the fallen monkeys regained their senses and arose. Sita granted a boon to Hanuman: "You will live for as long as Rama's fame lasts. Through my favours, divine delicacies will always be present before you." Then, while all those with unsullied deeds watched, the gods vanished.