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never felt dejected about her state. She never thought that,
“How pleasant was my palace stay and how painful is this
forest stay !” If she had thought in this manner, then surely
she would have taunted Rama at least once in a while if not
every day. But no situation dejected her. Her mind always
readily accepted every situation happily. Then where was
there room for any dissatisfaction, sarcasm or taunts ? It’s a
general rule that “The mouth speaks what the heart feels.” In
her heart, the forest days were not so sorrowful that she had
to express it by words.

Q. Isn’t it surprising that a delicate person like Sita who had
always lived a royal life did not get depressed by such an
adverse forest life ?

A. This was because Sita considered the forest exile to be
her duty. If my husband has to accept forest exile, then it
is my duty to follow him.

Sita considered these forest days to be her duty, and she
believed that “Following one’s duty is this human birth’s
beauty.” Thus, the pains that came in the way while
following this duty were of no importance.

Following one’s duty is a great thing. It is of no importance
to ignore one’s duty, run away from difficulties and always
take care of our comfort zone. What is important is faithful
observance of one’s duties. Thus keeping her heart and
mind light, if Sita passed her forest days considering it to

be her duty, where was there any space for complaints or
depression ?

The one who considers happiness only in sensual pleasures
and ignores duties and responsibilities is similar to an
animal.
23. Simply Sita … 113