The Wrath of Sita

Sankaradeva’s Uttarakanda

Abstract

This article analyzes Sankaradeva’s Assamese rendition of the Uttarakanda, the final book of the Ramayana, focusing on his bold reinterpretation of Sita’s second exile and final separation from Rama. Diverging from many later poets who downplay or spiritualize this episode as lila (divine play), Sankaradeva retains the tragic force of the narrative while introducing innovations that foreground Sita’s suffering and indignation. Notably, he omits the conventional “Rama Rajya” golden age, foreshadowing the emotional descent of the narrative. The article argues that Sankaradeva implicates Rama in Sita’s death, portraying him not as a divine actor above reproach, but as a figure of flawed justice. Sita's response to Rama’s summons is filled with grief, bitterness, and anger—a radical departure from Sanskrit tellings that emphasize her stoic acceptance. Her wrath culminates in a fierce, public condemnation of Rama and the social system that demanded a second test of chastity, transforming her into a figure of moral resistance rather than passive virtue. The article concludes that Sankaradeva’s narrative, rich in karuna rasa, offers an emotionally intense and ethically challenging reinterpretation of Sita’s final moments, reflective of his devotional but socially conscious bhakti aesthetics.