When Sita heard these soft and winning words of her beloved lord, her bright eyes filled with tears. His soothing advice was a burning pain to her as a moon-lit autumn night is to a chakavi.

In her distress Videha’s daughter (Sita) could make no answer, but thought that her holy and loving lord wished to leave her behind. Restraining her tears perforce and plucking up courage, Earth’s daughter -

-touched the feet of her mother-in-law and with folded hands thus spoke, ‘Pardon me, lady, my great presumption; my dear lord has given me only such advice as is conducive to my best interests;

- but I have pondered within myself and realized that there is no sorrow in the world so great as separation from a husband.

O lord of my life, abode of compassion, handsome, bounteous and wise, you who are to the house of Raghu as the moon to the lily, heaven without you would be as obnoxious as hell.

Father and mother, sisters and dear brothers, beloved kinsmen and the circle of friends, father-in-law and mother-in-law, the guru and relatives, helpers and even sons, however good-looking, well-behaved and congenial,

- nay, whatever ties of affection and kinship there exist, O my husband they are far more tormenting than the scorching sun. Life, riches, home, land, city and kingdom – all these are mere accoutrements of sorrow to a woman deprived of her husband.