Sunday, July 01, 2012

Sundarakandam Chapter 58 3


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.
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.

 “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.

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