she married an exalted person, Rama, and so entered the palace of Emperor Dasharatha; but what she got as her share was only scandal, sorrow and suffering in a forest. As she thought of all this, she felt a heaviness in the head. She lay down, and got into a deep slumber.

Not far from that part of the forest where Sita lay down was the hermitage of the sage Valmiki. The sage had come to the forest to gather flowers, leaves and twigs of the holy fig tree for his worship. He saw Sita lying there. He was surprised at a lone woman sleeping there and approached her. Just then Sita also woke up.

Seeing a rishi standing so near, she was afraid. Suddenly she sat up. Valmiki asked her, "Mother, who are you? You have the looks of a royal princess. Why are you alone in the forest? Anyway, do not be afraid. I am sage Valmiki. My hermitage is very near, I have come to collect twigs."

Sita had heard of Valmiki and his story. Seeing him now, she regained a little courage. She got up and prostrated before him. She narrated to him her whole story, punctuated by tears. Valmiki was deeply moved. He said, "Don't be afraid, my child. I shall look after you as my own daughter. Come, let us go to my hermitage." Sita followed him to his hermitage.