तां हत्वा पुनरेवाहं कृत्यम् आत्ययिकं स्मरन्।
गत्वा च महदध्वानम् पश्यामि नग मण्डितम्॥ ५-५८-४५
दक्षिणम् तीरमुदधेः लङ्का यत्र च सा पुरी।
अस्तं दिनकरे याते रक्षसां निलयां पुरीम्॥ ५-५८-४६
प्रविष्टोऽहमविज्ञातो रक्षोभिर्भीम विक्रमैः।
तत्र प्रविशतश्चापि कल्पान्तघनसन्निभा॥ ५-५८-४७
अट्टहासं विमुञ्चन्ती नारी काप्युत्थिता पुरः।
जिघांसन्तीं ततस्थाम् तु ज्वलदग्निशिरोरुहाम्॥ ५-५८-४८
सव्यमुष्टिप्रहारेण पराजित्य सुभैरवाम्।
प्रदोषकाले प्रविशं भीतयाहम् तयोदितः॥ ५-५८-४९
अहम् लङ्कापुरी वीर निर्जिता विक्रमेण ते।
यस्मात्तस्माद्विजेतासि सर्वरक्षांस्यशेषतः॥ ५-५८-५०
तत्राहं सर्वरात्रम् तु विचिन्वन् जनकात्मजाम्।
रावणान्तःपुर गतो न चापश्यं सुमध्यमाम्॥ ५-५८-५१
ततः सीतां अपश्यन् तु रावणस्य निवेशने।
शोक सागरमासाद्य न पारं उपलक्षये॥ ५-५८-५२
शोचता च मया दृष्टं प्राकारेण समावृतम्।
काञ्चनेन विकृष्टेन गृहोपवनमुत्तमम्॥ ५-५८-५३
स प्राकारमवप्लुत्य पश्यामि बहुपादपम्।
अशोकवनिका मध्ये शिम्शपा पादपो महान्॥ ५-५८-५४
तमारुह्य च पश्यामि काञ्चनम् कदलीवनम्।
अदूरात् शिम्शपा वृक्षात् पश्यामि वरवर्णिनीम्॥ ५-५८-५५
श्यामां कमल पत्राक्षीं उपवासकृशाननाम्।
तदेकवासःसंवीताम् रजोध्वस्तशिरोरुहाम्॥ ५-५८-५६
शोकसन्तापदीनाङ्गीम् सीतां भर्तृहिते स्थिताम्।
राक्षसीभिः विरूपाभिः क्रूराभिः अभिसंवृताम्॥ ५-५८-५७
मांसशोणितभक्ष्याभिः व्याघ्रीभिः हरिणीं यथा।
सा मया राक्षसीमध्ये तर्ज्यमाना मुहुर्महुः॥ ५-५८-५८
एकवेणीधरा दीना भर्तृचिन्तापरायणा।
भूमिशय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमागमे॥ ५-५८-५९
रावणाद्विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्यकृतनिश्चया।
कथञ्चिन्मृगशाबाक्षी तूर्णमासादिता मया॥ ५-५८-६०
तां दृष्ट्वा तादृशीं नारीं रामपत्नीं अनिन्दिताम्।
तत्र एव शिम्शपा वृक्षे पश्यन्नहं अवस्थितः॥ ५-५८-६१
ततो हलहला शब्दं काञ्ची नूपुर मिश्रितम्।
शृणोमि अधिकगम्भीरं रावणस्यनिवेशने॥ ५-५८-६२
ततोऽहं परमोद्विग्नः स्वरूपं प्रत्यसंहरम् ।
अहं च शिम्शपा वृक्षे पक्षीव गहने स्थितः॥ ५-५८-६३
ततो रावण दाराश्च रावणश्च महाबलः।
तं देशं समनुप्राप्ता यत्र सीताऽभवत् स्थिता॥ ५-५८-६४
तं दृष्ट्वा अथ वरारोहा सीता रक्षोगणेश्वरम्।
संकुच्य ऊरू स्तनौ पीनौ बाहुभ्याम्
परिरभ्य च॥ ५-५८-६५
वित्रस्तां परमोद्विग्नां वीक्षमाणामितस्ततः।
त्राणं किञ्चिदपश्यन्तीं वेपमानां तपस्विनीम्॥ ५-५८-६६
तामुवाच दशग्रीवः सीतां परमदुःखिताम्।
अवाक्शिराः प्रपतितो बहुमन्यस्व मां इति॥ ५-५८-६७
यदि चेत्त्वम् तु
दर्पान्मां नाभिनन्दसि गर्विते।
द्वौ मासवन्तरं सीते पास्यामि रुधिरम् तव॥ ५-५८-६८
एतत् श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः।
उवाच परमक्रुद्धा सीता वचनमुत्तमम्॥ ५-५८-६९
राक्षसाधम रामस्य भार्याम् अमिततेजसः।
इक्ष्वाकुकुलनाथस्य स्नुषाम् दशरथस्य च॥ ५-५८-७०
अवाच्यम् वदतो जिह्वा कथम् न पतिता तव।
किंस्विद् वीर्यम् तवानार्य यो मां भर्तुरसन्निधौ ॥ ५-५८-७१
अपहृत्यागतः पाप तेनादृष्टो महात्मना।
न त्वं रामस्य सदृशो दास्येप्यास्य न युज्यसे॥ ५-५८-७२
यज्ञीयः सत्यवाक् चैव रणश्लाघी च राघवः।
जानक्या परुषं वाक्यं एवं उक्तो दशाननः॥ ५-५८-७३
जज्वाल सहसा कोपाच्चितास्थ इव पावकः।
विवृत्य नयने क्रूरे मुष्टिम् उद्यम्य दक्षिणम्॥ ५-५८-७४
मैथिलीं हन्तुं आरब्धः
स्त्रीभिः हाहाकृतम् तदा।
स्त्रीणाम् मध्यात् समुत्पत्य तस्य भार्या दुरात्मनः॥ ५-५८-७५
वरा मण्डोदरी नाम तया स प्रतिषेधितः।
उक्तश्च मधुरां
वाणीं तया स मदनार्दितः॥ ५-५८-७६
सीतया तव किं कार्यं महेन्द्र सम विक्रम।
देव गन्धर्व कन्याभिः यक्षकन्याभिरेव च॥ ५-५८-७७
सार्धं प्रभो रमस्वैह सीतया किं करिष्यसि।
ततः ताभिः समेताभिः नारीभिः स महाबलः॥ ५-५८-७८
उत्थाप्य सहसा नीतो भवनं स्वं निशाचरः।
याते तस्मिन् दशग्रीवे राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः॥ ५-५८-७९
सीतां निर्भर्त्सयामासुः वाक्यैः क्रूरैः सुदारुणैः।
तृणवत् भाषितं तासां गणयामास जानकी॥ ५-५८-८०
तर्जितं च तदा तासां सीताम् प्राप्य निरर्थकम्।
वृथा गर्जितनिश्चेष्टा राक्षस्यः पिशिताशनाः॥ ५-५८-८१
रावणाय शशम्सुः ताः सीता अव्यवसितं महत्।
ततस्ताः सहितास्सर्वा विहताशा निरुद्यमाः॥ ५-५८-८२
परिक्षिप्य समन्तात् तां निद्रा वशमुपागताः।
तासु चैव प्रसुप्तासु सीता भर्तृहिते रता॥ ५-५८-८३
विलप्य करुणं दीना प्रशुशोच सुदुःखिता।
तासां मध्यात्समुत्थाय त्रिजटा वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ ५-५८-८४
आत्मानं खादत क्षिप्रं न सीता विनशिष्यति।
जनकस्यात्मजा साध्वी स्नुषा दशरथस्य च॥ ५-५८-८५
स्वप्नो ह्यद्य मया दृष्टो दारुणो रोमहर्षणः।
रक्षसां च विनाशाय भर्तुरस्या जयाय च॥ ५-५८-८६
अलमस्मात्परित्रातुं राघावाद्राक्षसीगणं।
अभियाचाम वैदेहीमेतद्धि मम रोचते॥ ५-५८-८७
यस्या ह्येवंविधः स्वप्नो दुःखितायाः प्रदृश्यते।
सा दुःखैर्विविधैर्मुक्ता सुखमाप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्॥ ५-५८-८८
प्रणिपातप्रसन्ना हि मैथिली जनकात्मजा।
ततः सा ह्रीमती बाला भर्तुर्विजयहर्षिता॥ ५-५८-८९
अवोचद्यदि तत्तथ्यं भवेयं शरणम् हि वः।
तां चाहं तादृशीं दृष्ट्वा सीताया दारुणां दशाम्।
चिन्तयामास विश्रान्तो न च मे निर्वृतम् मनः॥ ५-५८-९०
tāṁ hatvā punarevāhaṁ kṛtyam
ātyayikaṁ smaran |
gatvā ca mahadadhvānam paśyāmi
naga maṇḍitam || 5-58-45
dakṣiṇam tīramudadheḥ lankā
yatra ca sā purī |
astaṁ dinakare yāte rakṣasāṁ
nilayāṁ purīm || 5-58-46
praviṣṭo'hamavijñāto rakṣobhirbhīma
vikramaiḥ |
tatra praviśataścāpi
kalpāntaghanasannibhā || 5-58-47
aṭṭahāsaṁ vimuñcantī nārī
kāpyutthitā puraḥ |
jighāṁsantīṁ tatasthām tu
jvaladagniśiroruhām || 5-58-48
savyamuṣṭiprahāreṇa parājitya
subhairavām |
pradoṣakāle praviśaṁ
bhītayāham tayoditaḥ || 5-58-49
aham laṅkāpurī vīra nirjitā
vikrameṇa te |
yasmāttasmādvijetāsi sarvarakṣāṁsyaśeṣataḥ
|| 5-58-50
tatrāhaṁ sarvarātram tu
vicinvan janakātmajām |
rāvaṇāntaḥpura gato na cāpaśyaṁ
sumadhyamām || 5-58-51
tataḥ sītāṁ apaśyan tu rāvaṇasya
niveśane |
śoka sāgaramāsādya na pāraṁ
upalakṣaye || 5-58-52
śocatā ca mayā dṛṣṭaṁ prākāreṇa
samāvṛtam |
kāncanena vikṛṣṭena gṛhopavanamuttamam
|| 5-58-53
sa prākāramavaplutya paśyāmi
bahupādapam |
aśokavanikā madhye śimśapā
pādapo mahān || 5-58-54
tamāruhya ca paśyāmi kāñcanam
kadalīvanam |
adūrāt śimśapā vṛkṣāt paśyāmi
varavarṇinīm || 5-58-55
śyāmāṁ kamala patrākṣīṁ
upavāsakṛśānanām |
tadekavāsaḥsaṁvītām
rajodhvastaśiroruhām || 5-58-56
śokasantāpadīnāṅgīm sītāṁ
bhartṛhite sthitām |
rākṣasībhiḥ virūpābhiḥ
krūrābhiḥ abhisaṁvṛtām || 5-58-57
māṁsaśoṇitabhakṣyābhiḥ
vyāghrībhiḥ hariṇīṁ yathā |
sā mayā rākṣasīmadhye
tarjyamānā muhurmahuḥ || 5-58-58
ekaveṇīdharā dīnā bhartṛcintāparāyaṇā
|
bhūmiśayyā vivarṇāṅgī
padminīva himāgame || 5-58-59
rāvaṇādvinivṛttārthā martavyakṛtaniścayā
|
kathañcinmṛgaśābākṣī tūrṇamāsāditā
mayā || 5-58-60
tāṁ dṛṣṭvā tādṛśīṁ nārīṁ
rāmapatnīṁ aninditām |
tatra eva śimśapā vṛkṣe
paśyannahaṁ avasthitaḥ || 5-58-61
tato halahalā śabdaṁ kāñcī
nūpura miśritam |
śṛṇomi adhikagambhīraṁ rāvaṇasyaniveśane
|| 5-58-62
tato'haṁ paramodvignaḥ svarūpaṁ
pratyasamharam |
ahaṁ ca śimśapā vṛkṣe pakṣīva
gahane sthitaḥ || 5-58-63
tato rāvaṇa dārāsca rāvaṇasca
mahābalaḥ |
taṁ deśaṁ samanuprāptā yatra
sītā'bhavat sthitā || 5-58-64
taṁ dṛṣṭvā atha varāarohā sītā
rakṣogaṇeśvaram |
samkucya ūrū stanau pīnau
bāhubhyām parirabhya ca || 5-58-65
vitrastāṁ paramodvignāṁ vīkṣamāṇāmitastataḥ
|
trāṇaṁ kiñcidapaśyantīṁ
vepamānāṁ tapasvinīm || 5-58-66
tāmuvāca daśagrīvaḥ sītāṁ
paramaduḥkhitām |
avākśirāḥ prapatito
bahumanyasva māṁ iti || 5-58-67
yadi cettvam tu darpānmāṁ nābhinandasi garvite |
dvau māsavantaraṁ sīte pāsyāmi
rudhiram tava || 5-58-68
etat śrutvā vacastasya rāvaṇasya
durātmanaḥ |
uvāca paramakruddhā sītā
vacanamuttamam || 5-58-69
rākṣasādhama rāmasya bhāryām
amitatejasaḥ |
ikṣvākukulanāthasya snuṣām
daśarathasya ca || 5-58-70
avācyam vadato jihvā katham na
patitā tava |
kimsvit vīryam tavānārya yo
mām bharturasannidhau || 5-58-71
apahṛtya āgataḥ pāpa tenādṛṣṭo
mahātmanā |
na tvaṁ rāmasya sadṛśo dāsyepyāsya na yujyase ||
5-58-72
yajñīyaḥ satyavāk caiva raṇaślāghī
ca rāghavaḥ |
jānakyā paruṣaṁ vākyaṁ evaṁ ukto daśānanaḥ || 5-58-73
jajvāla sahasā kopāccitāstha
iva pāvakaḥ |
vivṛtya nayane krūre muṣṭim
udyamya dakṣiṇam || 5-58-74
maithilīṁ hantuṁ
ārabdhaḥ strībhiḥ hāhākṛtam tadā |
strīṇām madhyāt samutpatya
tasya bhāryā durātmanaḥ || 5-58-75
varā maṇḍodarī nāma tayā sa
pratiṣedhitaḥ |
uktasca madhurāṁ vāṇīm tayā sa madanārditaḥ || 5-58-76
sītayā tava kiṁ kāryaṁ
mahendra sama vikrama |
deva gandharva kanyābhiḥ yakṣakanyābhireva
ca || 5-58-77
sārdhaṁ prabho ramasvaiha
sītayā kiṁ kariṣyasi |
tataḥ tābhiḥ sametābhiḥ
nārībhiḥ sa mahābalaḥ || 5-58-78
utthāpya sahasā nīto bhavanaṁ
svaṁ niśācaraḥ |
yāte tasmin daśagrīve rākṣasyo
vikṛtānanāḥ || 5-58-79
sītāṁ nirbhartsayāmāsuḥ vākyaiḥ
krūraiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ |
tṛṇavat bhāṣitaṁ tāsāṁ gaṇayāmāsa
jānakī || 5-58-80
tarjitaṁ ca tadā tāsāṁ sītām prāpya nirarthakam |
vṛthā garjitaniśceṣṭā rākṣasyaḥ
piśitāśanāḥ || 5-58-81
rāvaṇāya śaśamsuḥ tāḥ sītā
avyavasitaṁ mahat |
tatastāḥ sahitāssarvā vihatāśā
nirudyamāḥ || 5-58-82
parikṣipya samantāt tāṁ nidrā
vaśamupāgatāḥ |
tāsu caiva prasuptāsu sītā
bhartṛhite ratā || 5-58-83
vilapya karuṇaṁ dīnā praśuśoca
suduhkhitā |
tāsāṁ madhyātsamutthāya trijaṭā
vākyamabravīt || 5-58-84
ātmānaṁ khādata kṣipraṇ na
sītā vinaśiṣyati |
janakasyātmajā sādhvī snuṣa
daśarathasya ca || 5-58-85
svapno hyadya mayā dṛṣṭo dāruṇo
romaharṣaṇaḥ |
rakṣasāṁ ca vināśāya
bharturasyā jayāya ca || 5-58-86
alamasmātparitrātuṁ
rāghavādrakṣasīgaṇam |
abhiyācāma vaidehīmetaddhi
mama rocate || 5-58-87
yasyā hyevamvidhaḥ svapno duḥkhitāyāḥ
pradṛśyate |
sā duḥkhairvividhairmuktā
sukhamāpnotyanuttamam || 5-58-88
praṇipātaprasannā hi maithilī
janakātmajā |
tatah sā hrīmatī bālā
bharturvijayaharṣitā || 5-58-89
avocadyadi tattathyaṁ bhaveyaṁ śaraṇam hi vaḥ |
tāṁ cāhaṁ tādṛśīṁ dṛṣṭvā
sītāyā dāruṇāṁ daśām |
cintayāmāsa viśrānto na ca me
nirvṛtam manaḥ || 5-58-90
After
sending Simhika to
the abode of death, I remembered my primary duty and proceeded on my
long and
lonely path. Finally I saw the southern
shores of the ocean where the great city of Lanka is situated. The lord
of the
Day, the Sun was preparing himself to call it a day, and I entered the
city which is the abode of the Raakshasaas. This entry was effected me
without attracting
the notice of the terrible and valorous demons.
While I was about to set my foot on the land of Lanka, a huge demoness
of the dark hue of the clouds that appear at the time of deluge appeared
before
me giving out a very loud roar. Her hair was so red and it was shining
like
burning embers against the background of the setting sun. She was
demanding me for an answer as to why I
was entering the city and was preparing to
attack me. I simply gave her a punch
with my left hand and she was defeated and fell unconscious. I entered
the city while it was still
twilight. The demoness who regained
consciousness after sometime told me that she was the presiding deity of
the
city of Lanka itself come there in person and since my valour has
overcome her strength,
it was definite that I was about to vanquish the whole Rakshasa
population of
Lanka. I spent the whole night in Lanka
roaming around in search of the great daughter of Janaka. I even
searched inside the harem of Ravana
but could not locate the beautiful Sita. I was immersed in the ocean
of sorrow which
at that moment seemed impossible for me to escape from. While I was
continuing my search in that
utterly desolate state of mind, a garden shining like gold came to my
sight. The garden was surrounded by
various ornamental seating arrangements.
When I entered the garden I could see large cluster of trees which
formed the Ashoka Vana and in
the middle of it I saw a Simsupa Tree.
“You Rakshasis,
protect yourself, the daughter of
Janaka, the pious daughter-in-law of King Dasaratha, Sita is not going to
perish. I have now seen a dream which is piteous to Ravana but is most heartening to Rama.
In that dream I saw the victory of Sita’s husband and the annihilation of the
Rakshasa clan. This Sita is capable of
saving us, the group of Raakshasiis from the wrath of Raghava. So let us apologise to Sita beg and entreat for our
protection. I think that is the appropriate action which will save our skins.
When such a dream comes to me in the matter of the utterly miserable Sita, I am
sure that her miseries are going to end
and she will be freed from sorrows and attain great pleasure and welfare. The daughter of Janaka, Maithili, is always
kind to those who approach her in total surrender.” Hearing of the forebodings of the victory of
her husband, the young lady Sita was highly pleased and said that if Trijatas
words became true, the Rakshasis would be given refuge.
Unnoticed
by others, I climbed over the simsupa tree and within a short
distance, I saw a garden of plantain trees with fruits of golden
colour. And there I saw the inimitable Sita who could
be described only by the most gifted person, now her colour having taken
a
blackish tint because of austerities and sorrow, her face emaciated.
She was wearing a single cloth and her hair was covered with dust. She
was in utter
sorrow of separation indicating that she is extremely devoted to her
husband. She wassurrounded by
Raakshasiis who were all looking ugly and cruel, and who were always
eating
bloodied fresh flesh making their mouth look cruelly red, and it looked
as if a
beautiful female deer was surrounded by cruel group of tigresses. I saw
her being berated by the demonesses
with cruel words and gesticulations. She
was wearing her hair in a single strand. She looked miserable, always
haunted
by the thoughts of her husband. She was
lying on the bare earth treating it as
her bed, and her body colour had lost its natural sheen, like the colour
of the
lotus when it is the time of mist and the
Sun is not so bright.
She abhorred the thoughts of Ravana and was almost on the verge of
contemplating self-annihilation. Her
eyes resembled a hurt doe. Ultimately I had reached her vicinity. Seeing the consort of Rama in that state, I
remained atop the simsupa tree. Then I
saw some commotion around and also the
tinkling of anklets and hip ornaments in the house of Ravana. Then I shrunk my form to
the tiniest possible way and perched on the simsapa tree like a bird. In a short while Ravana
made his appearance in the Ashokavana accompanied by his multitude of wives. It
was here that Sita was confined and I was sitting atop the simsupa tree.
When
she saw the Lord of Rakshasaas Ravana approaching Sita folded her
thighs over her body and covered her ample bosom with both her hands ,
and in
terrible fear and sorrow was looking
hither and thither. The ascetic she was, she was trembling with fear
seeing no one with whom she could seek protection. Ravana addressed
her asking her not to hide her face and maintain silence but to join
him in his harem. He
further warned her, terming her as extremely arrogant, that if she
persisted with her rigid attiude and did
not accede to his wishes within two months, he would make her his food
and drink her
blood. On hearing the nasty and terrible
words of the evil minded demon Ravana,
Sita was overcome with rage and uttered the following words, which
befitted her
status as an icon for womanhood.
“ You, the most wreteched member of
the Rakshasa clan, I am really surprised why your dirty tongue has not fallen
out by itself after having uttered such words to the consort of the valiant
Rama and the daughter in law of the great King Dasaratha. Fie on your valour as you
have abducted me sinfully from the abode of my valouros husband when
he was not present. You are in no way be compared to Rama and you are
not even fit to be his
servant. Rama possesses great scriptural
knowledge, he is extremely honest and he is ready for any fight and
always emerges
as successful in wars and is praised greatly for that." On hearing the
harsh words of the daughter
of Janaka the ten-headed demon was ablaze like fire with rage and
turning his cruel eyes on her
lifted his fist to hit her.
When the ladies
accompanying Ravana noticed that he was murderously inclined towards Seetha,
they all cried in anguish. Then Mandodhari, his chief consort approached Ravana who was blind with rage and desire, and
dissuaded him from such action. She told
him in sweet tones, “ Why should you bother about this Sita, you are as
valorous as the king of Gods Indra himself,
the damsels from the Deva, Gandharva, Kinnara and Yaksha clans are
keeping you company always and so you enjoy with them and what is the use of
this Sita for you?”
After
sending Simhika to
the abode of death, I remembered my primary duty and proceeded on my
long and
lonely path. Finally I saw the southern
shores of the ocean where the great city of Lanka is situated. The lord
of the
Day, the Sun was preparing himself to call it a day, and I entered the
city which is the abode of the Raakshasaas. This entry was effected me
without attracting
the notice of the terrible and valorous demons.
While I was about to set my foot on the land of Lanka, a huge demoness
of the dark hue of the clouds that appear at the time of deluge appeared
before
me giving out a very loud roar. Her hair was so red and it was shining
like
burning embers against the background of the setting sun. She was
demanding me for an answer as to why I
was entering the city and was preparing to
attack me. I simply gave her a punch
with my left hand and she was defeated and fell unconscious. I entered
the city while it was still
twilight. The demoness who regained
consciousness after sometime told me that she was the presiding deity of
the
city of Lanka itself come there in person and since my valour has
overcome her strength,
it was definite that I was about to vanquish the whole Rakshasa
population of
Lanka. I spent the whole night in Lanka
roaming around in search of the great daughter of Janaka. I even
searched inside the harem of Ravana
but could not locate the beautiful Sita. I was immersed in the ocean
of sorrow which
at that moment seemed impossible for me to escape from. While I was
continuing my search in that
utterly desolate state of mind, a garden shining like gold came to my
sight. The garden was surrounded by
various ornamental seating arrangements.
When I entered the garden I could see large cluster of trees which
formed the Ashoka Vana and in
the middle of it I saw a Simsupa Tree.
Unnoticed
by others, I climbed over the simsupa tree and within a short
distance, I saw a garden of plantain trees with fruits of golden
colour. And there I saw the inimitable Sita who could
be described only by the most gifted person, now her colour having taken
a
blackish tint because of austerities and sorrow, her face emaciated.
She was wearing a single cloth and her hair was covered with dust. She
was in utter
sorrow of separation indicating that she is extremely devoted to her
husband. She wassurrounded by
Raakshasiis who were all looking ugly and cruel, and who were always
eating
bloodied fresh flesh making their mouth look cruelly red, and it looked
as if a
beautiful female deer was surrounded by cruel group of tigresses. I saw
her being berated by the demonesses
with cruel words and gesticulations. She
was wearing her hair in a single strand. She looked miserable, always
haunted
by the thoughts of her husband. She was
lying on the bare earth treating it as
her bed, and her body colour had lost its natural sheen, like the colour
of the
lotus when it is the time of mist and the
Sun is not so bright.
She abhorred the thoughts of Ravana and was almost on the verge of
contemplating self-annihilation. Her
eyes resembled a hurt doe. Ultimately I had reached her vicinity. Seeing the consort of Rama in that state, I
remained atop the simsupa tree. Then I
saw some commotion around and also the
tinkling of anklets and hip ornaments in the house of Ravana. Then I shrunk my form to
the tiniest possible way and perched on the simsapa tree like a bird. In a short while Ravana
made his appearance in the Ashokavana accompanied by his multitude of wives. It
was here that Sita was confined and I was sitting atop the simsupa tree.
When
she saw the Lord of Rakshasaas Ravana approaching Sita folded her
thighs over her body and covered her ample bosom with both her hands ,
and in
terrible fear and sorrow was looking
hither and thither. The ascetic she was, she was trembling with fear
seeing no one with whom she could seek protection. Ravana addressed
her asking her not to hide her face and maintain silence but to join
him in his harem. He
further warned her, terming her as extremely arrogant, that if she
persisted with her rigid attiude and did
not accede to his wishes within two months, he would make her his food
and drink her
blood. On hearing the nasty and terrible
words of the evil minded demon Ravana,
Sita was overcome with rage and uttered the following words, which
befitted her
status as an icon for womanhood.
“ You, the most wreteched member of
the Rakshasa clan, I am really surprised why your dirty tongue has not fallen
out by itself after having uttered such words to the consort of the valiant
Rama and the daughter in law of the great King Dasaratha. Fie on your valour as you
have abducted me sinfully from the abode of my valouros husband when
he was not present. You are in no way be compared to Rama and you are
not even fit to be his
servant. Rama possesses great scriptural
knowledge, he is extremely honest and he is ready for any fight and
always emerges
as successful in wars and is praised greatly for that." On hearing the
harsh words of the daughter
of Janaka the ten-headed demon was ablaze like fire with rage and
turning his cruel eyes on her
lifted his fist to hit her.
When the ladies
accompanying Ravana noticed that he was murderously inclined towards Seetha,
they all cried in anguish. Then Mandodhari, his chief consort approached Ravana who was blind with rage and desire, and
dissuaded him from such action. She told
him in sweet tones, “ Why should you bother about this Sita, you are as
valorous as the king of Gods Indra himself,
the damsels from the Deva, Gandharva, Kinnara and Yaksha clans are
keeping you company always and so you enjoy with them and what is the use of
this Sita for you?”
Thus mollified, the wanderer through nights Ravana was conducted to his
abode by the ladies accompanying him.
Once Ravana had left, the Raakshasis surrounding Sita started berating Sita
with cruel, hurtful and insulting words.
And the daughter of Janaka ignored their words like pieces of
grass. When the shouts of the demonesses
who relished eating the dead bodies,
praised Ravana and tried to persuade Sita to accept Ravana and such words were rendered futile by their complete
dismissal by Sita, the cruel beings slowly started sleeping. While the
creatures were thus sleeping, Sita kept awake and was brooding over the welfare
of her husband. She kept on weeping
miserably and was in deep agony. Then
from among the sleeping Raakshasis, one named Trijata woke up and started
speaking as follows..
“You Rakshasis,
protect yourself, the daughter of
Janaka, the pious daughter-in-law of King Dasaratha, Sita is not going to
perish. I have now seen a dream which is piteous to Ravana but is most heartening to Rama.
In that dream I saw the victory of Sita’s husband and the annihilation of the
Rakshasa clan. This Sita is capable of
saving us, the group of Raakshasiis from the wrath of Raghava. So let us apologise to Sita beg and entreat for our
protection. I think that is the appropriate action which will save our skins.
When such a dream comes to me in the matter of the utterly miserable Sita, I am
sure that her miseries are going to end
and she will be freed from sorrows and attain great pleasure and welfare. The daughter of Janaka, Maithili, is always
kind to those who approach her in total surrender.” Hearing of the forebodings of the victory of
her husband, the young lady Sita was highly pleased and said that if Trijatas
words became true, the Rakshasis would be given refuge.
However,
seeing the present state of affairs in which sita was entangled, I was patiently
sitting atop the simsupa tree and contemplating further course
of action but my mind was not freed from anxiety.
However,
seeing the present state of affairs in which sita was entangled, I was patiently
sitting atop the simsupa tree and contemplating further course
of action but my mind was not freed from anxiety.
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