Doha 28
The combat of Jaṭāyu with Rāvaṇa
खल बधि तुरत फिरे रघुबीरा। सोह चाप कर कटि तूनीरा॥ आरत गिरा सुनी जब सीता। कह लछिमन सन परम सभीता॥१॥
जाहु बेगि संकट अति भ्राता। लछिमन बिहसि कहा सुनु माता॥ भृकुटि बिलास सृष्टि लय होई। सपनेहुँ संकट परइ कि सोई॥२॥
मरम बचन जब सीता बोला। हरि प्रेरित लछिमन मन डोला॥ बन दिसि देव सौंपि सब काहू। चले जहाँ रावन ससि राहू॥३॥
सून बीच दसकंधर देखा। आवा निकट जती कें बेषा॥ जाकें डर सुर असुर डेराहीं। निसि न नीद दिन अन्न न खाहीं॥४॥
सो दससीस स्वान की नाईं। इत उत चितइ चला भड़िहाईं॥ इमि कुपंथ पग देत खगेसा। रह न तेज तन बुधि बल लेसा॥५॥
नाना बिधि करि कथा सुहाई। राजनीति भय प्रीति देखाई॥ कह सीता सुनु जती गोसाईं। बोलेहु बचन दुष्ट की नाईं॥६॥
तब रावन निज रूप देखावा। भई सभय जब नाम सुनावा॥ कह सीता धरि धीरजु गाढ़ा। आइ गयउ प्रभु रहु खल ठाढ़ा॥७॥
जिमि हरिबधुहि छुद्र सस चाहा। भएसि कालबस निसिचर नाहा॥ सुनत बचन दससीस रिसाना। मन महुँ चरन बंदि सुख माना॥८॥
Meaning
As soon as He had slain the wretch Mārīca, Śrī Raghuvīra turned back, the charming bow in his hand and the quiver at His back. When Sītā heard the cry of distress, She was seized with terrible fear and said to Lakṣmaṇa: (1) “Go quickly, your brother is in great peril.” Lakṣmaṇa answered with a smile, “Listen, mother: By the very play of whose eyebrows the entire creation is annihilated, could He, Śrī Rāma, ever be in danger even in a dream?” (2) But when Sītā urged him with words that cut him to the quick, Lakṣmaṇa’s resolve— for such was Śrī Hari’s will—was shaken. He entrusted Her to the care of all the sylvan gods and the deities presiding over the quarters and proceeded to the place where Śrī Rāma, a veritable Rāhu to the moonlike Rāvaṇa, was. (3) Availing himself of this opportunity, when there was none by the side of Sītā, the ten-headed Rāvaṇa drew near to Her cottage in the guise of a recluse. He, in fear of whom the gods and demons equally trembled, so much so that they could neither sleep by night nor eat their food by day, (4) that very Rāvaṇa proceeded on his mission of thieving, looking this side and that like a cur. Even so, the moment a man sets his foot on the path of vice, O Garuḍa (king of birds), his bodily glow, reason and strength completely disappear. (5) Having invented alluring stories of various kinds he not only showed Her the course which was dictated by political wisdom but also used threats and made gestures of love to Her. Said Sītā, “Listen, O holy ascetic: you have spoken like a villain.” (6) Then Rāvaṇa revealed his real form; and She was terrified when he mentioned his name. Sītā plucked all Her courage and said, “Stay awhile, O wretch, my lord has come. (7) “Even as a tiny hare would covet a lioness, so have you wooed your own destruction (by setting your heart on me), O king of demons.” On hearing these words the ten-headed Rāvaṇa flew into a rage, though in his heart he was happy to adore Her feet. (8)
क्रोधवंत तब रावन लीन्हिसि रथ बैठाइ। चला गगनपथ आतुर भयँ रथ हाँकि न जाइ॥२८॥
Meaning
Full of rage, Rāvaṇa now seated Her in his chariot and drove through the air in great flurry: he was so much frightened that he was scarcely able to drive the chariot. (28)
Ramayan appFree. No ads. Works offline.InstallFrom the Gita Press, Gorakhpur edition. Buy the book