Now we come to Sita.

You have yourself quoted a phrase along with the translation but yet
are not seeing it in
proper lights.Let me bring it again.
pashyatastaaM tu raamasya samiipe hR^idayapriyaam |
janavaadabhayaadraajJNo babhuuva hR^idayaM dvidhaa ||
Translation : The heart of King Rama, as he saw Seetha, (the beloved
of his heart) near
him, was torn for fear of public scandal.(Yuddha Kanda 115 verse 10.)
So what does this say? Is the heart of Rama torn for Sita or is it
torn for Public
scandal? Rama may be loving, Sita very much but this verse clearly
shows that he is
showing reluctance in accepting her because he is more worried about
public scandal
than Sita’s happiness.
Moreover not a single soul till that time had said anything about Sita's
character. He
assumed that there would be a public scandal. And on this
assumption he goes on to
length and keeps insulting Sita in full public view

In the entire public view he tells her in the 15thand 16th stanza this..
viditashchaastu bhadraM te yo.ayaM raNaparishRamaH |
sutiirNaH suhR^idaaM viiryaanna tvadarthaM mayaa kR^itaH ||
rakShataa tu mayaa vR^ittamapavaadam cha sarvataH |
prakhyaatasyaatmavaMshasya nyaN^gaM cha parimaarjataa ||
Translation : Let it be known to you that this endeavor in the
shape of war, which
has been successful carried through, due to the strength of my
friends was not
undertaken for your sake. Let there be prosperity to you! This
was done by me in
order to keep up my good conduct and to wipe off the evil-
speaking from all sides as
well as the insinuation on my own illustrious dynasty.
Clearly we see that Rama is hesitant to accept Sita back because he
fears his reputation.
He openly admits that as well. And clearly says that he has undertaken
a war for his pride
and not for Sita. Rama just comes across as a self-obsessed individual.

Now Let kanika explode

When Hanuman's tail was lit, the rakshasas started displaying him in the streets of lanka.
Sita heard the news and prayed to agni like this.
yadyasti pati susrUshA yadyasti charitam tapah
yadivAtyEkapatnItvam sItO bhava hanUmatah
yadi kinchidanukrOsastasya mayyasti dhImatah
yadivA bhAgyasEshOme sIto bhava hanUmatah
yadi maam vritta sampannAm tvam samAgama lAlasaam
savijAnAti dharmAtmA sIto bhava hanUmatah

The last sentence in bold means: If dharmatma Rama knows that I am chaste, sIlavati and
am waiting for his arrival, then O agnideva stay cold to hanuman. And due to this satya
vachana, agni stayed cold to hanuman. The when hanuman found that agni was not
burning him, he understood that,

sItAyAschAnrisamsEna tEjasA rAghavasyacha

This is the greatness of Sita who is the teja of Rama.

After he burnt lanka, he turned back and saw the whole lanka in fire and got disheartened
that Sita might got caught in fire. Again he thought for a second and said to himself
convincingly that,

athah chAru sarvAngI rakshitA svEna tEjasA

nasishyati kalyAnI nAgni ragnau pravartate

Sita herself is an agni who can save herself with her brilliance. How could agni burn
agni?

There is a reason all these incidents should be known before going to the final incident.
one, we will have complete understanding of the dharma in ramayana. second, we will
know a lot more than concentrating on one incident.

Sita did agni pravesh voluntarily to die. Reasons will come later. The incident finally
became agni pariksha. Important thing is Rama never told in words to Sita to prove her
chastity with agni parIksha
Now people critises him for her safety
Let see Kaikeyi's first wish was that Rama has to go to forest 14 years and not
Lakshmana and Sita. Dasharatha never said this with his mouth that Rama has to go to
forest. It is not pitru vakya pAlana that Rama did. It is pitru satya pAlana. Then he took
permission from his mother though she was reluctant first. He then came to Sita and told
her that this is all what happened and he has to go to forest immediately. Rama tells her
to live the 14 years serving the elders and practicing penance. Sita says she will come
with him and serve him in the forest. But Rama objects and says forest is very dangerous
and she would have a hard time there. Sita persists and start crying for his behavior. Then
Rama says

na dEvi tava duhkhe na swargamapyabhirOchumE

If you cry, even swarga is not pleasing to me.

tava sarva mabhiprAyamavignyAya subhAnanE

vAsam narOchayEranyE sakthimAnapi rakshanE

even though I am capable of protecting you in forest, its not good to order you to come to
forest with me without knowing your strong opinion. This is required because, already
the world has criticized Rama very well for his deeds towards Sita in the name of women
abuse, but Rama has at every place tried to show Sita's greatness and after every incident
Valmiki reveals the reason lucidly.

Finally orders her as

sAhidhistAna vadyAngI vanAya madhirEkshanE

anugucchasva mAm bhIru saha dharma charI bhava

Now O Sita, come along with me and become my dharma chArin

Lets first know what actually happened. In a way that will be enough explainatory, no
one can be better than Valmiki.

After Ravana's death, the rajya abhishek of Vibhishana is done for which Rama doesnt
attend due to non completion of his 14 years vanvaas. Then Sita is brought before him
with great respect. The moment Rama sees her, Valmiki says three feelings came in
Rama's face and mind.

harshO dainyancha rOshascha

happyness, sadness and anger. happyness to see her after that long separation. sadness for
her suffering all this time. anger for what the world would call her now.

He remained silent for a while which was very terrifying to everybody there. Valmiki
then defines his mindset in which he was saying these words.

jana vAda bhayAt ragnyA bhabhUva hridayat vidhA

due to the fear of people calling her names, he split his heart into two and said this. Rama
was not happy saying this. Still each and every word he said was absolutely worthy at
that time. He spoke to her as,

EshAsi nirjitA bhadrE shatrun jitvA ranAjirE

I have defeated the enemy and saved you from his capture.
rAvanAnka pariklistA dristvA dristEna chakshushA

Ravana saw you, caught you placed you on his thigh and flew away.

prApta chAritra sandEhA mama pratimukhEsthithA

deepO nEtrAturasyEvA pratikUlAsi mE dridha

You with a doubtful character would be difficult for me to accept like a patient with eye
disease cant bear a lighted lamp. In 'varnana' (description) there is a terminology called
'upamA'. Which means comparing with the right example. This verse clearly shows
Rama's intentions. He doesnt say that Sita is character less. He says she has a doubtful
character. He (everybody who suspects her) cant bear her like a diseased eye cant bear a
lamp. There is no dosha in the lamp. Its the dosha of the eye which is diseased. In
meaning it means Sita is spotless and it is the mistake of people who doubt her

Now Ankur you said why you are free to choose anyone

Now letme answer:

You are free now and you can choose Bharata or Lakshmana anyone you like. This verse
seems very unbearable to everyone. But Sita herself says something which clarifies this.
Thats all Rama says. Then Sita says in grief.

kAthinyam rAja dharmam

king's dharma is very rigid. You have shown me the grief one tapasvI would feel when
penetrated with such sharp words. I have said the same to lakshmana when he was
relucant to go when mArIcha came as the golden deer and imitated your voice. Then she
orders Lakshmana to set up fire. Before going into fire, she says to Rama, I wold like to
say only one word. You and me are not different as the sun and his light. Then she
walked towards the fire.

Valmiki then explains the state of Rama for the grief he had and Sita's hurt feelings
which left her no reason to live.

dadhyau muhUrtham dharmAtmA bhAshpa vyAkula lOchanah

Rama who was dharmAtma closed his eyes and drops were flowing out.

Sita has now entered agni.

The only mistake Sita does in the entire Ramayana is to hurt Lakshmana. She has been
cleaned of that only mistake here.
Quoting verses would be lengthier. So lets get to the summary with very few quotes.

Dasharatha intended to coronate Rama and the whole city of Ayodhya was rejoicing on
the occasion. Kaikeyi though was very very happy about this, finally with a spoilt mind
asked dasharatha two boons. Dasharatha promised her two boons and he gave his word to
do whatever she would ask. Now the wishes were against his mind, everyone's mind. His
dharma is to abide by his word whatever it is. He still says to her that he cant fulfil her
wishes even if she tear him apart. She questions him if this was what his dharma vachana
is. The only reason he was worrying was he, his ancestors have given a very great rule
the whole of which was dependent on dharma. One exclusion would spoil the whole
lineage. The kings were not selfish. They lived their life as an ascetic for the welfare of
people. So he was very silent. When Rama came to him, he was silent and kaikeyi told
him her wishes. He immediately took leave prepared himself and finally came to
Dasharatha to take leave. Dasharatha calls everyone and the only word he speaks to
Rama is

aham rAghava kaikEyA vara dAnEna mOhitA

ayOdhyAyAstvamEvadya bhava rAjA nigrihya mAm

I am helpless with the words given to kaikeyi. kill me and rule this kingdom.

Rama consoles his father and leaves to forest. He did not listen to his fathers words.
Instead he uplifted his father's sathya. What he did was pitru sathya palana. parivachaka
for sathya is

bhUta hitha yathArtha bhAshanamEva sathyam

The deeds should be benifitial to the entire bhutakoti. else its not sathya and sathya is
eternal for which all the great people stood for.
Agni pariksha
Sita entered agni. All the devathas along with brahma and shiva came there. They say

kartA sarvasya lokasya srEstO dharma bhritAm varah

upEkshasE katham sItA patantI bhavya vAhanE
upEkshasincha vaidEhI mAnusha prAkritO yathA

You being the protector of all the worlds, who is the uplifter of dharma, how can you
suspect Sita like a common man? Then Rama says

AtmAnam mAnusham manyE rAmam dasharadAtmajam

sEham tasya yatasyAkam bhagawAn stabravItumE

I think I am Rama, a human, son of Dasharatha. Its better you all tell me who I am. Then
all the devathas recite a sthotra called Rama sthotra in his glory. There are two great
sthotras in yuddha kanda, one Aditya hridayam and two Rama sthotram. Both are
considered very divine like Bhagavad Gita which is a part of the bhishma parva of
Mahabharata. At the end of this Rama sthotra they also decalre that who ever will recite
this sthotra will be victorious in every deed they do.
Then agni comes to Rama and asks Rama for rescue. He was unable to sustain Sita and
says that he is an indhanAgni, an agni which burns on some fuel (indhan). She is
unindhanAgni. she is an agni which doesnt need any fuel. Agni could not bear Sita as her
brilliance was destroying agni's brilliance. Agni then confesses this,

naiva vAchA na manasA naiva buddhyA na chakshusA

suvrittA vritta soundIryam natvAmatya charatchuvA

not with words, manas, mind, vision Sita would never behave irrelated to Rama. If
Ravana had taken her away, its his misconduct, but Sita's manas always belonged to
Rama.

eshAtE rAmA vaidEhI pApamasyAm navidyatE

vishuddhi bhAvAm nishpApAm pratigrihnIshva maithilI

O Rama Sita does not have a single sin on her part. So accpet Sita who is so very pure in
her conduct.

This was agni's confession. Agni is considered the sakshi for all the truth. Here agni
himself confessed her to beWhen Agni said this Rama was greatly delighted. His state
here was explained by Valmiki as,

dadhyau muhUrtham dharmAtmA harsha vyAkula lOchanA

Rama who is a dharmatma had eyes which were delighted with joy. Then Rama declared
in front of everyone his opinion on Sita and the reason for his deed.

avasyam chApi lOkEshu sItA pAvana marhati

For sure Sita is very pure. If I accept her directly the world would say

bAlisOvada kAmAtma rAmO dasharAtmajah

Rama being blind with desire has accepted Sita who has a doubtful character.

iti vakshati mAm lOkO jAnakIm avisOdhayE

So I have explored Sita and showed the truth to the world. I know Agni cannot harm her.

imAmapi vishAlAkshI rakshitAm svEna tEjasA

Sita can protect herself from agni with her brilliance. These are the same words
Hanuman uses in sundara kanda when he thought Sita might have got caught in fire and
then convinces himself that Sita can protect herself.

pratyayArtantu lOkAnAm triAnAm satya samsrayah

upEkshayichApi vaidEhIm pravisantI hutAsanah

Now Sita has been proved to the three worlds to be pure.

nasakyassudushtAtmA manasApi hi mathilIm

pradarshayitumaprApyAm dIptAmagni sikhAmiva

I havent said Sita to do this. But Sita understanding my intentions did this. Sita herself is
a great fire and no fire can approach her to burn.

navihAtum mayA saktyAm kIrtirAtma vadhA yadA

I cant live without Sita. This is the love and affection he had towards Sita. These are the
words Rama says to everybody who stood there.

EtatchritvA subham vAkyam rAghavEnApi bhAshitam

tatham subhataram vAkyam yAjahAra mahEshwarah

When Rama said these 'shubha vakya' Lord Shiva says further 'shubhataram vakya'.

pushkarAksha mahAbAhO mahA vakshah parantapah

dishtyAm krityamidam karma tvayA dharma bhritAm varah

O Rama with great chest and arms, you have thought very well and did a great deed.
Lord shiva certified Rama's action to be absolutely perfect.

Then Sita stood by Rama's side and they both shone with great brilliance