Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 48 of 128 · 37 verses
Sita’s Lament; Trijata’s Reassurance
Seeing her husband and mighty Lakshmana apparently dead, Sita laments bitterly. The readers of signs who said I would have sons and never be a widow, those who called me the queen of a sacrificer and the wife of one who performs great rites, those who counted me among the honoured wives of heroic kings, the astrologer brahmanas who told me I was blessed: with Rama dead, all of them spoke falsely. I have the lotus marks on my feet that bring noble women to be crowned with their kings; I see none of the bad marks that bring widowhood; yet with Rama dead those true signs have proved false. She lists her marks: fine, even, dark hair; separate brows; round, hairless calves; close-set teeth; the right temples, eyes, hands, feet, ankles and thighs; nails curved, glossy and even; full breasts; deep navel; jewel-like complexion; soft hair; twelve auspicious marks, palms and soles marked with the full barley-grain and unbroken lines, a gentle smile. The wise said she would be consecrated with her husband; all made false.
Having cleansed Janasthana, found news of me and crossed the unshakeable ocean, the brothers are killed in a cow’s hoofprint. They had the weapons of Varuna, Agni, Indra and Vayu and the Brahmashiras; they were killed by an invisible foe through magic. No enemy who came into Raghava’s sight could have returned alive; nothing is too heavy for Time. I grieve less for Rama and Lakshmana, or for myself or my mother, than for my mother-in-law, who waits always for the day her son returns with Sita and Lakshmana.
Trijata says: do not despair, lady; your husband is alive. Here are strong reasons. Warriors’ faces are not angry and eager when their leader is dead. This chariot, the Pushpaka, is heavenly and would not carry you if they were dead (it does not bear a widow). An army whose chief heroes are killed wanders aimlessly like a rudderless boat, but this army is calm and guards the two Kakutsthas. Take heart from these signs of good fortune; see, they are not dead. I have never lied to you and never will; your character has won my heart. These two cannot be conquered even by gods and asuras with Indra. And see this great wonder: though they have fallen senseless from the arrows, their splendour has not left them; the faces of men whose life is gone become hideously changed. Give up grief and confusion; it is impossible for Rama and Lakshmana to be dead today. Sita, with joined palms, says, “May it be so.” The Pushpaka turns back, and Sita, downcast, is brought back to Lanka and into the Ashoka grove, where, thinking of the princes, she sinks into deep despair.
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भर्तारं निहतं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम् । विललाप भृशं सीता करुणं शोककर्शिता ॥ १ ॥
Seeing her husband killed, and mighty Lakshmana, Sita, worn by grief, lamented bitterly and piteously:
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Sita’s Lament; Trijata’s Reassurance 1 min read.
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ऊचुर्लाक्षणिका ये मां पुत्रिण्यविधवेति च । तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः ॥ २ ॥
“Those readers of marks who told me ‘You will have sons and never be a widow’: with Rama killed today, all those knowers have spoken falsely.
यज्वनो महिषीं ये मामूचुः पत्नीं च सत्रिणः । तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः ॥ ३ ॥
“Those who called me the queen of a sacrificer and the wife of a performer of great rites: with Rama killed today, all those knowers have spoken falsely.
वीरपार्थिवपत्नीनां ये विदुर्भर्तृपूजिताम् । तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः ॥ ४ ॥
“Those who counted me among the wives of heroic kings, honoured by her husband: with Rama killed today, all those knowers have spoken falsely.
ऊचुः संश्रवणे ये मां द्विजाः कार्तान्तिकाः शुभाम् । तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः ॥ ५ ॥
“Those astrologer brahmanas who told me in my hearing that I was blessed: with Rama killed today, all those knowers have spoken falsely.
इमानि खलु पद्मानि पादयोर्वै कुलस्त्रियः । आधिराज्येऽभिषिच्यन्ते नरेन्द्रैः पतिभिः सह ॥ ६ ॥
“These lotus marks on the feet: by them, women of good family are consecrated with their kingly husbands to sovereignty.
वैधव्यं यान्ति यैर्नार्योऽलक्षणैर्भाग्यदुर्लभाः । नात्मनस्तानि पश्यामि पश्यन्ती हतलक्षणा ॥ ७ ॥
“The inauspicious marks by which women unlucky in fortune go to widowhood, I do not see on myself, though I look, I whose marks are struck down.
सत्यनामानि पद्मानि स्त्रीणामुक्तानि लक्षणैः । तान्यद्य निहते रामे वितथानि भवन्ति मे ॥ ८ ॥
“The lotus marks named true for women by the signs: today, with Rama killed, they have become false for me.
केशाः सूक्ष्माः समा नीला भ्रुवौ चासंहते मम । वृत्ते चारोमके जङ्घे दन्ताश्चाविरला मम ॥ ९ ॥
“My hair is fine, even and dark, and my brows do not meet; my calves are round and hairless, and my teeth set close.
शङ्खे नेत्रे करौ पादौ गुल्फावूरू समौ चितौ । अनुवृत्तनखाः स्निग्धाः समाश्चाङ्गुलयो मम ॥ १० ॥
“Temples, eyes, hands, feet, ankles and thighs are even and full; my fingers are smooth, even, with well-curved nails.
स्तनौ चाविरलौ पीनौ मामकौ मग्नचूचुकौ । मग्ना चोत्सेधनी नाभिः पार्श्वोरस्कं च मे चितम् ॥ ११ ॥
“My breasts are full and close together, with sunken nipples; my navel is deep, with a raised rim; my sides and chest are full.
मम वर्णो मणिनिभो मृदून्यङ्गरुहाणि च । प्रतिष्ठितां द्वादशभिर्मामूचुः शुभलक्षणाम् ॥ १२ ॥
“My complexion is like a jewel, and my body hair soft; they said I was established in twelve auspicious marks.
समग्रयवमच्छिद्रं पाणिपादं च वर्णवत् । मन्दस्मितेत्येव च मां कन्यालाक्षणिका विदुः ॥ १३ ॥
“My hands and feet are full of the barley-grain sign, without gaps, and coloured; and those who read maidens’ marks knew me as one of gentle smile.
आधिराज्येऽभिषेको मे ब्राह्मणैः पतिना सह । कृतान्तकुशलैरुक्तं तत् सर्वं वितथीकृतम् ॥ १४ ॥
“My consecration to sovereignty with my husband by brahmanas, spoken by those skilled in foretelling: all that has been made false.
शोधयित्वा जनस्थानं प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य च । तीर्त्वा सागरमक्षोभ्यं भ्रातरौ गोष्पदे हतौ ॥ १५ ॥
“Having cleared Janasthana and obtained news of me, having crossed the unshakeable ocean, the brothers are killed in a cow’s hoofprint.
ननु वारुणमाग्नेयमैन्द्रं वायव्यमेव च । अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव राघवौ प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ १६ ॥
“Surely the two Raghavas had obtained the weapons of Varuna and Agni, of Indra and Vayu, and the Brahmashiras.
अदृश्यमानेन रणे मायया वासवोपमौ । मम नाथावनाथाया निहतौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ १७ ॥
“By one unseen in battle, by magic, my two protectors, like Vasava, Rama and Lakshmana, have been killed, and I am without protector.
नहि दृष्टिपथं प्राप्य राघवस्य रणे रिपुः । जीवन् प्रतिनिवर्तेत यद्यपि स्यान्मनोजवः ॥ १८ ॥
“For no enemy, coming into the path of Raghava’s sight in battle, would go back alive, even if he were swift as thought.
न कालस्यातिभारोऽस्ति कृतान्तश्च सुदुर्जयः । यत्र रामः सह भ्रात्रा शेते युधि निपातितः ॥ १९ ॥
“There is no burden too great for Time, and Fate is very hard to conquer, since Rama lies struck down in battle with his brother.
न शोचामि तथा रामं लक्ष्मणं च महारथम् । नात्मानं जननीं चापि यथा श्वश्रूं तपस्विनीम् ॥ २० ॥
“I do not grieve so much for Rama and for Lakshmana the great chariot-warrior, nor for myself or my mother, as for my poor mother-in-law.
सा तु चिन्तयते नित्यं समाप्तव्रतमागतम् । कदा द्रक्ष्यामि सीतां च लक्ष्मणं च सराघवम् ॥ २१ ॥
“For she thinks always: ‘When will I see him come back with his vow completed, and Sita, and Lakshmana with Raghava?’”
परिदेवयमानां तां राक्षसी त्रिजटाब्रवीत् । मा विषादं कृथा देवि भर्तायं तव जीवति ॥ २२ ॥
To her lamenting, the rakshasi Trijata said: “Do not despair, lady; this husband of yours is alive.
कारणनि च वक्ष्यामि महान्ति सदृशानि च । यथेमौ जीवतो देवि भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ २३ ॥
“I will tell you reasons, strong and fitting, why these two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, are alive, lady.
नहि कोपपरीतानि हर्षपर्युत्सुकानि च । भवन्ति युधि योधानां मुखानि निहते पतौ ॥ २४ ॥
“The faces of warriors in battle are not filled with anger and eager with joy when their leader has been killed.
इदं विमानं वैदेहि पुष्पकं नाम नामतः । दिव्यं त्वां धारयेन् नेदं यद्येतौ गतजीवितौ ॥ २५ ॥
“This chariot, Vaidehi, named Pushpaka, is heavenly; it would not carry you if these two had lost their lives.
हतवीरप्रधाना हि गतोत्साहा निरुद्यमा । सेना भ्रमति संख्येषु हतकर्णेव नौर्जले ॥ २६ ॥
“An army whose chief heroes are killed, its spirit gone, without effort, wanders in battle like a boat on the water with its rudder lost.
इयं पुनरसम्भ्रान्ता निरुद्विग्ना तपस्विनि । सेना रक्षति काकुत्स्थौ मया प्रीत्या निवेदितौ ॥ २७ ॥
“But this army, unflustered and untroubled, poor lady, guards the two Kakutsthas, whom I have shown you out of affection.
सा त्वं भव सुविस्रब्धा अनुमानैः सुखोदयैः । अहतौ पश्य काकुत्स्थौ स्नेहादेतद् ब्रवीमि ते ॥ २८ ॥
“So be fully confident through these inferences that bring happiness. See the two Kakutsthas unharmed; I tell you this out of love.
अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे न च वक्ष्यामि मैथिलि । चारित्रसुखशीलत्वात् प्रविष्टासि मनो मम ॥ २९ ॥
“I have never spoken a lie before, and I will not, Maithili; through your character and gentle nature you have entered my heart.
नेमौ शक्यौ रणे जेतुं सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः । तादृशं दर्शनं दृष्ट्वा मया चोदीरितं तव ॥ ३० ॥
“These two cannot be conquered in battle even by gods and asuras with Indra; seeing such a sight, I have told you so.
इदं तु सुमहच्चित्रं शरैः पश्यस्व मैथिलि । विसंज्ञौ पतितावेतौ नैव लक्ष्मीर्विमुञ्चति ॥ ३१ ॥
“And look at this great wonder, Maithili: these two have fallen senseless from the arrows, yet Lakshmi does not leave them.
प्रायेण गतसत्त्वानां पुरुषाणां गतायुषाम् । दृश्यमानेषु वक्त्रेषु परं भवति वैकृतम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“For as a rule, in men whose strength and life are gone, a great change appears in their faces when they are seen.
त्यज शोकं च दुःखं च मोहं च जनकात्मजे । रामलक्ष्मणयोरर्थे नाद्य शक्यमजीवितुम् ॥ ३३ ॥
“Give up grief and sorrow and confusion, daughter of Janaka; it cannot be that Rama and Lakshmana are not alive today.”
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्याः सीता सुरसुतोपमा । कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेमामेवमस्त्विति मैथिली ॥ ३४ ॥
Hearing her words, Sita, like a daughter of the gods, Maithili, joined her palms and said to her, “May it be so.”
विमानं पुष्पकं तत्तु संनिवर्त्य मनोजवम् । दीना त्रिजटया सीता लङ्कामेव प्रवेशिता ॥ ३५ ॥
Turning back that chariot Pushpaka, swift as thought, sad Sita was brought back into Lanka by Trijata.
ततस्त्रिजटया सार्धं पुष्पकादवरुह्य सा । अशोकवनिकामेव राक्षसीभिः प्रवेशिता ॥ ३६ ॥
Then, getting down from the Pushpaka with Trijata, she was taken by the rakshasis into the Ashoka grove.
प्रविश्य सीता बहुवृक्षखण्डां तां राक्षसेन्द्रस्य विहारभूमिम् । सम्प्रेक्ष्य संचिन्त्य च राजपुत्रौ परं विषादं समुपाजगाम ॥ ३७ ॥
Entering the pleasure ground of the king of the rakshasas, with its many groves of trees, looking about and thinking of the two princes, Sita fell into the deepest despair.