Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 48

भर्तारं निहतं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्। विललाप भृशं सीता करुणं शोककर्शिता॥
Seeing her husband, well the exceedingly powerful Laksmana, slain, Srta, afflicted with grief, burst into bitter lamentation.

ऊचुर्लाक्षणिका ये मां पुत्रिण्यविधवेति च। तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः॥
The soothsayers had said that I should have sons, and should never be a widow. But on Råma being slain, it sees now that those ones, possessed of knowledge, had spoken untruthfully.

यज्वनो महिषीं मामूचुः पत्नी च सत्रिणः। तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः॥
Those also, who having celebrated sacrifices and rites, had said that I should become the queen (of Rama), on Rāma being slain, seems today to have spoken a falsehood, although they are possessed of knowledge.

वीरपार्थिवपत्नीनां ये विदुर्भर्तृपूजिताम्। तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः॥
They also asserted that I should be honoured of the wives of heroic kings as well as of my lord, but on Rāma being slain, they seem to have spoken a falsehood, although possessed of knowledge.

ऊचुः संश्रवणे ये मां द्विजाः कान्तिकाः शुभाम्। । तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः॥
Those twice-born ones that in any hearing had said auspicious words, on Rāma being slain, seem today to have spoken a falsehood although they were possessed of knowledge.

इमानि खलु पद्मानि पादयोर्वै कुलस्त्रियः। आधिराज्येऽभिषिच्यन्ते नरेन्द्रैः पतिभिः सह॥
These lotus-marks on the feet, betokening to gentlewomen possessing them, that they are to be installed in the kingdom in company with their husbands-who are kings-are on me.

वैधव्यं यान्ति यैर्नार्योऽलक्षणैर्भाग्यदुर्लभाः। नात्मनस्तानि पश्यामि पश्यन्ती हतलक्षणा।७।।
Those marks find I none on me by which women of rare fortune come by widowhood, but I find that in me these good tokens are nullified.

सत्यनामानि पद्मानि स्त्रीणामुक्तानि लक्षणैः। तान्यद्य निहते रामे वितथानि भवन्ति मे॥
Those marks that are pronounced infallible by those versed in such knowledge, on Rama being slain, are nullified in me.

केशाः सूक्ष्माः समा नीला ध्रुवौ चासंहते मम। वृत्ते चारोमके जो दन्ताश्चाविरला मम।।।।
My hairs are fine, equal, and blue; my eyebrows touch each other; my hips are devoid of down and round; and my teeth are close.

शो नेत्रे करौ पादौ गुल्फावूरू समौ चितौ। अनुवृत्तनखाः स्निग्धाः समाश्चाङ्गुलयो मम॥
My temples, and eyes hands, feet, ankles, and thighs are equal. And my fingers are furnished with round nails, and are plump and even in the middle.

स्तनौ चाविरलौ पीनौ मामको मग्नचूचुकौ। मग्ना चोत्सेधनी नाभिः पार्थोरस्कं च मे चितम्॥
And my breasts are close and firm and developed, and have their nipples sunk. And my navel is depressed, with high sides. And my chest is swelling.

मम वर्णो मणिनिभौ मृदून्यङ्गरुहाणि च। प्रतिष्ठितां द्वादशभिरमामूचुः शुभलक्षणाम्॥
My complexion is like the hue of gems, and my down soft. And they said that I was furnished with twelve auspicious signs.

समग्रयवमच्छिद्रं पाणिपादं च वर्णवत्। मन्दस्मितेत्येव च मां कन्यालाक्षणिका विदुः॥
And my hands in the middle parts of my fingers contain wheat-marks, and in the spaces between the fingers, have no uneven corners. And my feet also partake of the general complexion. And my laugh is a gentle smile. And those versed in marks of women knew that I was possessed of such marks.

आधिराज्येऽभिषेको मे ब्राह्मणैः पतिना सह। कृतान्तकुशलैरुक्तं तत्सर्वं वितथीकृतम्॥१४॥
Those Brähmaņas skilled in telling fortune said that I should be installed in the kingdom along with my husband; but all that has been falsified.

शोधयित्वा जनस्थानं प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य च। तीर्वा सागरमक्षोभ्यं भ्रातरौ गोष्पदे हतौ॥
Having purified Janasthana (of Raksasas), obtained tidings of me, and crossed the Ocean* incapable of being agitated, those brothers have been slain in the footprint of a cow! *The commentator assigns a metaphorical sense to ocean-but this is hardly necessary.

ननु वारुणाग्नेयमैन्द्रं वायव्यमेव च। अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव राघवौ प्रत्यपद्यत॥
The descendants of Raghu had obtained Väruņa and Āgneya and Aindra and Vāyavya and Brahmasira weapons.* * And did they not remember this now? completes the sense.

अदृश्यमानेन रणे भायया वासवोपमौ। मम नाथावनाथाया निहतौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥
Through illusion have those lords of me, who am forlorn. Rāma and Lakşmaņa, resembling Vasava himself in battle, been slain.

नहि दृष्टिपथं प्राप्य राघवस्य रणे रिपुः। जीवन्प्रतिनिवर्तेत यद्यपि स्यान्मनोजवः॥
Coming in battle within ken of Raghava, a foe, even if he be endowed with the fleetness of thought, does not go back living.

न कालस्यातिभारोऽस्ति कृतान्तश्च सुदुर्जयः। यत्र रामः सह भ्रात्रा शेते युधि निपातितः॥
There is nothing which is too hard for Time; and the Destroyer is incapable of being overcome; inasmuch as Rāma along with his brother Lakşmaņa has fallen in fight.

न शोचामि तथा राम लक्ष्मणं च महारथम्। नात्मानं जननीं चापि यथा श्वश्रू तपस्विनीम्॥ सा तु चिन्तयते नित्यं समाप्तव्रतमागतम्। कदा द्रक्ष्यामि सीतां च लक्ष्मणं च सराघवम्॥
I do not so much mourn Rāma or the mighty car-warrior-Laksmana-or, for that matter, self, as I do the wretched mother-in-law of mine. She ever think of the period of the promise. "When shall I behold Sītā and Lakşmaņa with Rāghava?

परिदेवयमानां तां राक्षसी त्रिजटाब्रवीत्। मा विषादं कृथा देवि भर्तायं तव जीवति॥
As she was thus lamenting, the Rākṣasai, said, O exalted lady, do not weep thus, your lord live.

कारणानि च वक्ष्यामि महान्ति सदृशानि च। यथेमौ जीवतो देवि भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥
O dignified one, I shall unfold to you potent and probable reasons why the brothers Rāma and Laksmana live.

नहि कोपपरीतानि हर्षपर्युत्सुकानि च। भवन्ति युधि योधानां मुखानि निहते पतौ॥
When their leader fall, the countenances of the warriors in battle are not overspread with passion, or display cheerfulness and vivacity.

इदं विमानं वैदेहि पुष्पकं नाम नामतः। दिव्यं त्वां धारयेनेदं यद्येतौ गतजीवितौ ॥
O Vaidehi, if those had lost their lives, this celestial chariot, named Puspaka, would not have held you.

हतवीरप्रधाना हि गतोत्साहा निरुद्यमा। सेना भ्रमति संख्येषु हतकणेव नौ ले॥ इयं पुनरसंभ्रान्ता निरुद्विग्ना तपस्विनि। सेना रक्षति काकुत्स्थौ मया प्रीत्या निवेदितौ ॥
An army that has its heroes and chiefs slainbecoming dispirited and drooping, range the field, like a vessel on water that has losi its helmsman. But, O lorm one, these troops, be trying neither agitation nor anxiety, are guarding the Kākutsthas, This I tell you of them out of affection.

सा त्वं भव सुविस्रब्धा अनुमानैः सुखोदयैः। अहतौ पश्य काकुत्स्थौ स्नेहादेतद्ब्रवीमि ते॥
Do you, at this conclusion bringing in joy, take comfort; and behold the Kākutsthas unslain. This I tell you from affection.

अनृतं नोक्तपूर्व मे न च वक्ष्यामि मैथिलि। चारित्रसुखशीलत्वात्प्रविष्टासि मनो मम ॥
I never told you untruths heretofore; nor, O Mithila's daughter, will I tell them to you now. You by virtue of your character conducive to delight, have found an access into my heart.

नेमौ शक्यौ रणे जेतुं सेन्ट्रैरपि सुरासुरैः। तादृशं दर्शनं दृष्ट्वा मया चोदीरितं तव॥
These even the celestials and Asuras with Indra (at their head) are incompetent to quell. Seeing such sight, I speak to you as to their being alive.

इदं तु सुमहच्चित्रं शरैः पश्यस्व मैथिलि। विसंज्ञौ पतितावेतौ नैव लक्ष्मीर्विमुञ्चति ॥
And behold O Maithili, this mighty wonder! These are lying insensible with arrows; but of these Grace has not taken leave.

प्रायेण गतसत्वानां पुरुषाणां गतायुषाम्। दृश्यमानेषु वक्रेषु परं भवति वैकृतम्॥ त्यज शोकं च दुःखं च मोहं च जनकात्मजे। रामलक्ष्मणयोरर्थे नाद्य शक्यमजीवितुम्॥
It generally happens that the faces of persons dead and gone, are unsightly to a degree. Therefore, O Janka's daughter, leave off grief and sorrow and stupor. For the sake of Rāma and Lakşmaņa you can not today put a period to your existence.

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्याः सीता सुरसुतोपमा। कृताञ्जलिरुवाचेमामेवमस्त्विति मैथिली॥
Hearing her words, Mithila's daughter-Sītāresembling the daughter of a celestial, with hands joined, said, "May this be so!

विमानं पुष्पकं तत्तु संनिवर्त्य मनोजवम्। दीना त्रिजटया सीता लङ्कामेव प्रवेशिता॥
Then turning away the car Puşpaka fleet as the mind, the distressed Sītā entered Lankā along with Trijata.

ततस्त्रिजटया सार्धं पुष्पकादवरुह्य सा। अशोकवनिकामेव राक्षसीभिः प्रवेशिता॥
Then in company with Trijatā alighting from Puşpaka, she along with the Rākşasis entered the asoka wood.

प्रविश्य सीता बहुवृक्षखण्डां तां राक्षसेन्द्रस्य विहारभूमिम्। संप्रेक्ष्य संचिन्त्य च राजपुत्रौ परं विषादं समुपाजगाम्॥
Entering that sporting-ground of the Raksasa lord abounding in woody tracts, Sītā, having beheld those princes and reflected on them, became subject to a mighty grief.