Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 33 of 128 · 38 verses
Sarama Comforts Sita
Seeing Sita deluded and stricken, a rakshasi named Sarama, her loving friend, comes to her. Sarama is one of the guards Ravana appointed, but she is compassionate and firm in her vows, and has become Sita’s friend. She finds Sita fallen in the dust like a mare that has rolled in it, and comforts her: take heart, Vaidehi; hidden in a thicket, I heard everything Ravana said to you and what you answered; I am not afraid of Ravana for your sake. I followed him out and learned why he left in such a hurry. Rama, who knows himself, cannot be killed in his sleep; that tiger among men cannot be killed at all, nor can the monkeys who fight with trees, guarded by Rama as the gods by Indra. Raghava, long-armed, broad-chested, a famous archer, righteous, protector of himself and others, with his brother Lakshmana, has not been killed. This was an illusion made by that cruel magician, the enemy of all beings.
Your grief is over; every good thing has come to you. Rama has crossed the ocean with the monkey army and is camped on the southern shore; I have seen him with Lakshmana, his purpose fulfilled, guarded by his forces. The swift rakshasas Ravana sent brought the news that Raghava has crossed, and Ravana is now in counsel with his ministers. As she speaks, they hear the terrible noise of the army being mustered. Sarama explains: that drum calls the troops to arms; elephants are being harnessed, chariots yoked, thousands of horsemen with lances are gathering, and the royal roads are filling with armed rakshasas, like the ocean with rushing floods. Fortune, the slayer of grief, is with you; fear has come to the rakshasas. Lotus-eyed Rama, master of anger, of unthinkable valour, will kill Ravana in battle and win you back, fighting the rakshasas with Lakshmana as Indra fights his enemies with Vishnu. I will see you in Rama’s lap, your purpose fulfilled, shedding tears of joy on his broad chest; soon he will loosen the single braid you have worn so many months, and seeing his face like the risen full moon, you will shed your grief as a snake sheds its skin. Take refuge in the sun, which circles the great mountain like a horse in the ring; it is the source of all creatures.
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सीतां तु मोहितां दृष्ट्वा सरमा नाम राक्षसी । आससादाथ वैदेहीं प्रियां प्रणयिनी सखीम् ॥ १ ॥
Seeing Sita deluded, a rakshasi named Sarama, a loving friend, came then to her dear Vaidehi.
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Sarama Comforts Sita 1 min read.
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मोहितां राक्षसेन्द्रेण सीतां परमदुःखिताम् । आश्वासयामास तदा सरमा मृदुभाषिणी ॥ २ ॥
Sarama, gentle of speech, comforted Sita, deluded by the king of the rakshasas and in the greatest grief.
सा हि तत्र कृता मित्रं सीतया रक्ष्यमाणया । रक्षन्ती रावणादिष्टा सानुक्रोशा दृढव्रता ॥ ३ ॥
For she, appointed by Ravana to guard her, compassionate and firm in her vows, had been made a friend there by Sita, whom she guarded.
सा ददर्श सखी सीतां सरमा नष्टचेतनाम् । उपावृत्योत्थितां ध्वस्तां वडवामिव पांसुषु ॥ ४ ॥
Sarama, her friend, saw Sita senseless, risen after rolling over, covered in dust like a mare in the dust.
तां समाश्वासयामास सखीस्नेहेन सुव्रताम् । समाश्वसिहि वैदेहि मा भूत् ते मनसो व्यथा । उक्ता यद् रावणेन त्वं प्रयुक्तश्च स्वयं त्वया ॥ ५ ॥
She comforted her of good vows with a friend’s affection: “Take heart, Vaidehi; let there be no distress in your mind. What Ravana said to you, and what you yourself replied,
सखीस्नेहेन तद् भीरु मया सर्वं प्रतिश्रुतम् । लीनया गहने शून्ये भयमुत्सृज्य रावणात् । तव हेतोर्विशालाक्षि नहि मे रावणाद् भयम् ॥ ६ ॥
“out of a friend’s love I heard it all, timid one, hidden in an empty thicket, putting aside my fear of Ravana. For your sake, large-eyed one, I have no fear of Ravana.
स सम्भ्रान्तश्च निष्क्रान्तो यत्कृते राक्षसेश्वरः । तत्र मे विदितं सर्वमभिनिष्क्रम्य मैथिलि ॥ ७ ॥
“And why the king of the rakshasas went out in such alarm, I learned everything there, Maithili, having gone out after him.
न शक्यं सौप्तिकं कर्तुं रामस्य विदितात्मनः । वधश्च पुरुषव्याघ्रे तस्मिन् नैवोपपद्यते ॥ ८ ॥
“A night attack cannot be made on Rama, who knows himself; and killing is not possible against that tiger among men.
न त्वेवं वानरा हन्तुं शक्याः पादपयोधिनः । सुरा देवर्षभेणेव रामेण हि सुरक्षिताः ॥ ९ ॥
“Nor can the monkeys, who fight with trees, be killed like this; for they are well protected by Rama, as the gods by the bull among gods.
दीर्घवृत्तभुजः श्रीमान् महोरस्कः प्रतापवान् । धन्वी संनहनोपेतो धर्मात्मा भुवि विश्रुतः ॥ १० ॥
“With long, round arms, glorious, broad-chested, powerful, an archer, well armoured, righteous, famous on earth,
विक्रान्तो रक्षिता नित्यमात्मनश्च परस्य च । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा कुलीनो नयशास्त्रवित् ॥ ११ ॥
“valiant, always protector of himself and of others, with his brother Lakshmana, nobly born, learned in the science of policy,
हन्ता परबलौघानामचिन्त्यबलपौरुषः । न हतो राघवः श्रीमान् सीते शत्रुनिबर्हणः ॥ १२ ॥
“slayer of the floods of enemy forces, of unthinkable strength and manliness: glorious Raghava has not been killed, Sita, the destroyer of enemies.
अयुक्तबुद्धिकृत्येन सर्वभूतविरोधिना । एवं प्रयुक्ता रौद्रेण माया मायाविना त्वयि ॥ १३ ॥
“By one whose actions and mind are improper, hostile to all beings, by that cruel magician, this illusion was used against you.
शोकस्ते विगतः सर्वकल्याणं त्वामुपस्थितम् । ध्रुवं त्वां भजते लक्ष्मीः प्रियं ते भवति शृणु ॥ १४ ॥
“Your grief is gone; all good things have come to you. Surely Lakshmi favours you; something dear to you is happening. Listen:
उत्तीर्य सागरं रामः सह वानरसेनया । संनिविष्टः समुद्रस्य तीरमासाद्य दक्षिणम् ॥ १५ ॥
“Having crossed the ocean with the monkey army, Rama is camped, having reached the southern shore of the ocean.
दृष्टो मे परिपूर्णार्थः काकुत्स्थः सहलक्ष्मणः । सहितैः सागरान्तस्थैर्बलैस्तिष्ठति रक्षितः ॥ १६ ॥
“I have seen Kakutstha with Lakshmana, his purpose fulfilled; he stands protected by his forces together on the ocean’s edge.
अनेन प्रेषिता ये च राक्षसा लघुविक्रमाः । राघवस्तीर्ण इत्येवं प्रवृत्तिस्तैरिहाहृता ॥ १७ ॥
“And the swift rakshasas sent by this one have brought the news here that Raghava has crossed.
स तां श्रुत्वा विशालाक्षि प्रवृत्तिं राक्षसाधिपः । एष मन्त्रयते सर्वैः सचिवैः सह रावणः ॥ १८ ॥
“Having heard that news, large-eyed one, this king of the rakshasas, Ravana, is taking counsel with all his ministers.”
इति ब्रुवाणा सरमा राक्षसी सीतया सह । सर्वोद्योगेन सैन्यानां शब्दं शुश्राव भैरवम् ॥ १९ ॥
As the rakshasi Sarama was saying this with Sita, she heard the terrible noise of the armies with all their preparation.
दण्डनिर्घातवादिन्याः श्रुत्वा भेर्या महास्वनम् । उवाच सरमा सीतामिदं मधुरभाषिणी ॥ २० ॥
Hearing the great sound of the drum beaten with sticks, Sarama, sweet of speech, said this to Sita:
संनाहजननी ह्येषा भैरवा भीरु भेरिका । भेरीनादं च गम्भीरं शृणु तोयदनिःस्वनम् ॥ २१ ॥
“This terrible drum is the one that calls to arms, timid one; hear the deep sound of the drum, like the roar of a cloud.
कल्प्यन्ते मत्तमातङ्गा युज्यन्ते रथवाजिनः । दृश्यन्ते तुरगारूढाः प्रासहस्ताः सहस्रशः ॥ २२ ॥
“Rutting elephants are being made ready, horses yoked to chariots; horsemen with lances in their hands are seen by the thousand.
तत्र तत्र च संनद्धाः सम्पतन्ति सहस्रशः । आपूर्यन्ते राजमार्गाः सैन्यैरद्भुतदर्शनैः ॥ २३ ॥
“Here and there armed men are rushing by the thousand; the royal roads are filling with armies wonderful to see,
वेगवद्भिर्नदद्भिश्च तोयौघैरिव सागरः । शस्त्राणां च प्रसन्नानां चर्मणां वर्मणां तथा ॥ २४ ॥
“like the ocean with swift, roaring floods of water. Of shining weapons, shields and armour,
रथवाजिगजानां च राक्षसेन्द्रानुयायिनाम् । सम्भ्रमो रक्षसामेष हृषितानां तरस्विनाम् ॥ २५ ॥
“of chariots, horses and elephants following the king of the rakshasas: this is the bustle of the excited, swift rakshasas.
प्रभां विसृजतां पश्य नानावर्णसमुत्थिताम् । वनं निर्दहतो घर्मे यथा रूपं विभावसोः ॥ २६ ॥
“See them giving out a light that rises in many colours, like the form of fire burning a forest in summer.
घण्टानां शृणु निर्घोषं रथानां शृणु निःस्वनम् । हयानां हेषमाणानां शृणु तूर्यध्वनिं तथा ॥ २७ ॥
“Hear the clanging of bells, hear the rumble of chariots, hear horses neighing and the sound of instruments.
उद्यतायुधहस्तानां राक्षसेन्द्रानुयायिनाम् । सम्भ्रमो रक्षसामेष तुमुलो लोमहर्षणम् ॥ २८ ॥
“This is the tumultuous, hair-raising bustle of the rakshasas following the king of the rakshasas, with weapons raised in their hands.
श्रीस्त्वां भजति शोकघ्नी रक्षसां भयमागतम् । रामः कमलपत्राक्षो दैत्यानामिव वासवः ॥ २९ ॥
“Fortune, the destroyer of grief, is favouring you; fear has come upon the rakshasas. Lotus-eyed Rama, like Vasava over the daityas,
अवजित्य जितक्रोधस्तमचिन्त्यपराक्रमः । रावणं समरे हत्वा भर्ता त्वाधिगमिष्यति ॥ ३० ॥
“conquering, master of anger, of unthinkable valour, having killed Ravana in battle, your husband will win you.
विक्रमिष्यति रक्षःसु भर्ता ते सहलक्ष्मणः । यथा शत्रुषु शत्रुघ्नो विष्णुना सह वासवः ॥ ३१ ॥
“Your husband with Lakshmana will show his valour on the rakshasas, as Vasava, slayer of enemies, with Vishnu, on his enemies.
आगतस्य हि रामस्य क्षिप्रमङ्कागतां सतीम् । अहं द्रक्ष्यामि सिद्धार्थां त्वां शत्रौ विनिपातिते ॥ ३२ ॥
“When Rama has come, I will soon see you, virtuous one, in his lap, your purpose fulfilled, when the enemy has been struck down.
अस्राण्यानन्दजानि त्वं वर्तयिष्यसि जानकि । समागम्य परिष्वक्ता तस्योरसि महोरसः ॥ ३३ ॥
“You will shed tears of joy, Janaki, united with him, embraced on the chest of that broad-chested one.
अचिरान्मोक्ष्यते सीते देवि ते जघनं गताम् । धृतामेकां बहून् मासान् वेणीं रामो महाबलः ॥ ३४ ॥
“Soon, goddess Sita, mighty Rama will loosen the single braid you have worn for many months, hanging to your hips.
तस्य दृष्ट्वा मुखं देवि पूर्णचन्द्रमिवोदितम् । मोक्ष्यसे शोकजं वारि निर्मोकमिव पन्नगी ॥ ३५ ॥
“Seeing his face, goddess, like the full moon risen, you will shed the waters of grief as a she-serpent sheds her slough.
रावणं समरे हत्वा नचिरादेव मैथिलि । त्वया समग्रः प्रियया सुखार्हो लप्स्यते सुखम् ॥ ३६ ॥
“Having killed Ravana in battle, very soon, Maithili, he who deserves happiness, made whole with you, his beloved, will find happiness.
सभाजिता त्वं रामेण मोदिष्यसि महात्मना । सुवर्षेण समायुक्ता यथा सस्येन मेदिनी ॥ ३७ ॥
“Honoured by great-souled Rama, you will rejoice, like the earth joined with crops by good rain.
गिरिवरमभितो विवर्तमानो हय इव मण्डलमाशु यः करोति । तमिह शरणमभ्युपैहि देवि दिवसकरं प्रभवो ह्ययं प्रजानाम् ॥ ३८ ॥
“Him who, turning round the best of mountains, quickly makes his circuit like a horse: take refuge in him here, goddess, the maker of day; for he is the source of creatures.”