In the Bengali version of the Ramayana, the birth story of Sita diverges from the traditional account found in the Valmiki Ramayana, introducing the celestial nymph Urvashi into the narrative. Here is an expanded version of the story:
In the kingdom of Mithila, ruled by the great sage-king
Janaka, there was a prevailing sorrow due to his childlessness. Despite his
wisdom and devotion, Janaka had no heir to continue his legacy. He was advised
by learned sages and divine counselors that his longing for a child could be
fulfilled through a divine intervention and a unique ritual involving a sacred
plow.
One day, King Janaka, driven by faith and a divine prophecy,
decided to plow a field himself as part of this ritual. With determination and
hope, he began tilling the sacred ground. As he pulled the plow across the
fields, his efforts symbolized his deep yearning and devotion to the gods for a
child.
At that very moment, the celestial apsara Urvashi was flying
across the skies, her ethereal beauty gracing the heavens. As King Janaka
looked up and saw Urvashi, he was overcome with a sudden and intense passion.
This divine sight stirred his emotions profoundly, and in that moment of
transcendence, his semen fell to the earth.
The sacred union of Janaka’s divine essence with the earth
resulted in the formation of a mystical egg, hidden beneath the soil. The
ritual continued as Janaka plowed, and eventually, the plow touched this egg.
The egg surfaced and caught the attention of all present. Intrigued and filled
with a mix of curiosity and reverence, King Janaka carefully broke open the
egg.
Inside, he discovered a beautiful girl child, radiating an
otherworldly charm and purity. As he gazed upon the child, a celestial voice
resonated from the heavens, proclaiming, "This is your daughter. Raise her
as your own child."
Overwhelmed with joy and a sense of divine fulfillment, King
Janaka took the miraculous child into his arms and brought her home. He named
her Sita, and she was raised with immense love, care, and the virtues befitting
a princess.
Thus, Sita, born of divine intervention and the celestial
influence of Urvashi, grew up to be a woman of unparalleled grace, strength,
and virtue, destined to play a pivotal role in the epic tale of the Ramayana.
This version of Sita's birth highlights the interplay
between human devotion, divine intervention, and the mystical elements that
permeate the narrative, adding a unique dimension to her origin and the larger
story of the Ramayana.