What Atri Told Rāma

In the years of his exile, Rāma came with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa to the hermitage of Atri, and Atri received him as a father receives a son. When he had seen to their welcome, he called his wife, the revered Anasūyā, who walked the path of dharma, and said to her, Receive Sītā into your care.

Then he told Rāma about her. Once, he said, when the world was scorched by a drought that lasted ten years, it was she who brought forth roots and fruits, and made the Gaṅgā flow. She is fierce in austerity and keeps strict vows. She has practised great austerity for ten thousand years, and every obstacle turns away from her. Once, when a faithful wife's word held back the sun for ten days, it was she who brought back the dawn, for the work of the gods. She is like a mother to you, sinless one. Let Sītā go to her. She is old, and never angry, and worthy of honour from every creature, and by her deeds she has won in this world the name Anasūyā, the woman without spite.

Rāma said, So be it, and turned to Sītā. Princess, you have heard what the sage has said. For your own good, go quickly to her.