Sundara Kanda, Sarga 26
प्रसक्ताश्रुमुखी त्वेवं ब्रुवती जनकात्मजा। अधोगतमुखी बाला विलप्तुमुपचक्रमे॥ १॥ उन्मत्तेव प्रमत्तेव भ्रान्तचित्तेव शोचती। उपावृत्ता किशोरीव विचेष्टन्ती महीतले॥ २॥
Meaning
While speaking as aforesaid and grieving, tears rolling down her face, her head bent low, as though she were possessed, distracted or bewildered in mind, and wallowing on the earth’s surface like a colt which rolls habitually about in order to shake off its fatigue, the youthful daughter of Janaka for her part began to wail as follows: (1-2)
राघवस्य प्रमत्तस्य रक्षसा कामरूपिणा। रावणेन प्रमथ्याहमानीता क्रोशती बलात्॥ ३॥
Meaning
“Though living under the protection of Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, who having been lured away from my presence by Mārīca, had grown heedless about me, I was forcibly borne away, screaming after being overpowered by the ogre, Rāvaṇa, who is able to change his form at will. (3)
राक्षसीवशमापन्ना भर्त्स्यमाना च दारुणम्। चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखार्ता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे॥ ४॥
Meaning
“Fallen that I am into the clutches of ogresses and am being ruthlessly threatened by them, and remain constantly brooding and sore stricken with sorrow, I dare not survive any longer. (4)
नहि मे जीवितेनार्थो नैवार्थैर्न च भूषणैः। वसन्त्या राक्षसीमध्ये विना रामं महारथम्॥ ५॥
Meaning
“I have no use whatsoever for life, nor even for riches, nor for jewels, as long as I am living in the midst of ogresses apart from Śrī Rāma, a great chariot-warrior. (5)
अश्मसारमिदं नूनमथवाप्यजरामरम्। हृदयं मम येनेदं न दुःखेन विशीर्यते॥ ६॥
Meaning
“This heart of mine is surely like iron or proof against age and death in that it does not get riven even through agony. (6)
धिङ्मामनार्यामसतीं याहं तेन विना कृता। मुहूर्तमपि जीवामि जीवितं पापजीविका॥ ७॥
Meaning
“Woe be to me, ignoble and vile that I am, inasmuch as I preserve my life even for a while, though separated from him and leading as I do a sinful existence. (7)
चरणेनापि सव्येन न स्पृशेयं निशाचरम्। रावणं किं पुनरहं कामयेयं विगर्हितम्॥ ८॥
Meaning
“I would not touch the ogre Rāvaṇa even with my left foot, much less love the despicable fellow. (8)
प्रत्याख्यानं न जानाति नात्मानं नात्मनः कुलम्। यो नृशंसस्वभावेन मां प्रार्थयितुमिच्छति॥ ९॥
Meaning
“He does not heed my refusal, nor does he cognize himself, nor his own race. Due to his cruel nature, on the other hand, he seeks to win me over. (9)
छिन्ना भिन्ना प्रभिन्ना वा दीप्ता वाग्नौ प्रदीपिता। रावणं नोपतिष्ठेयं किं प्रलापेन वश्चिरम्॥ १०॥
Meaning
“I would not betake myself to Rāvaṇa even if I am transfixed, cut asunder, hacked to pieces, roasted in fire or burnt. What shall be gained by your raving for so long? (10)
ख्यातः प्राज्ञः कृतज्ञश्च सानुक्रोशश्च राघवः। सद्वृत्तो निरनुक्रोशः शङ्के मद्भाग्यसंक्षयात्॥ ११॥ राक्षसानां जनस्थाने सहस्राणि चतुर्दश। एकेनैव निरस्तानि स मां किं नाभिपद्यते॥ १२॥
Meaning
“I fear Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, who was well-known as a wise man, alive to the services rendered to him, nay, merciful and a man of excellent morals, has become pitiless due to complete loss of my good fortune. Otherwise, why does he, by whom alone as many as fourteen thousand ogres were killed in Janasthāna, not come to me? (11-12)
निरुद्धा रावणेनाहमल्पवीर्येण रक्षसा। समर्थः खलु मे भर्ता रावणं हन्तुमाहवे॥ १३॥
Meaning
“What a pity that I have been detained by Rāvaṇa, an ogre of poor strength, although my husband is surely able to kill Rāvaṇa in combat. (13)
विराधो दण्डकारण्ये येन राक्षसपुंगवः। रणे रामेण निहतः स मां किं नाभिपद्यते॥ १४॥
Meaning
“Why does Śrī Rāma, by whom Virādha, the foremost of ogres, was slain in the Daṇḍaka forest, not run up to me? (14)
कामं मध्ये समुद्रस्य लङ्केयं दुष्प्रधर्षणा। न तु राघवबाणानां गतिरोधो भविष्यति॥ १५॥
Meaning
“Granted that, situated as it is in mid-ocean, this Laṅkā is difficult to storm, but the flight of the arrows of Śrī Rāma, however, can meet with no obstruction here. (15)
किं नु तत् कारणं येन रामो दृढपराक्रमः। रक्षसापहृतां भार्यामिष्टां यो नाभिपद्यते॥ १६॥
Meaning
“What on earth could be the reason why Śrī Rāma of unyielding prowess does not run to the rescue of his beloved wife, borne away by an ogre? (16)
इहस्थां मां न जानीते शङ्के लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः। जानन्नपि स तेजस्वी धर्षणां मर्षयिष्यति॥ १७॥
Meaning
“I fear that Śrī Rāma, an elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa, does not know me to be here. Knowing that I am here, will he be able to put up with the outrage, all powerful and mighty that he is? (17)
हृतेति मां योऽधिगत्य राघवाय निवेदयेत्। गृध्रराजोऽपि स रणे रावणेन निपातितः॥ १८॥
Meaning
“That king of vultures too, who having come to know that Rāvaṇa had borne me away, could have reported the matter to Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, but was killed by Rāvaṇa in an encounter. (18)
कृतं कर्म महत् तेन मां तथाभ्यवपद्यता। तिष्ठता रावणवधे वृद्धेनापि जटायुषा॥ १९॥
Meaning
“A prodigious feat was accomplished by the aforesaid Jaṭāyu, who though old, strove to get rid of Rāvaṇa in order to rescue me at the moment. (19)
यदि मामिह जानीयाद् वर्तमानां हि राघवः। अद्य बाणैरभिक्रुद्धः कुर्याल्लोकमराक्षसम्॥ २०॥
Meaning
“If Śrī Rāma really knew me to be present here, he would in fury rid the world of ogres with his shafts today. (20)
निर्दहेच्च पुरीं लङ्कां निर्दहेच्च महोदधिम्। रावणस्य च नीचस्य कीर्तिं नाम च नाशयेत्॥ २१॥
Meaning
“Nay, he would reduce the city of Laṅkā to ashes and burn up the ocean. He would also blot out the fame as well as the name of the despicable Rāvaṇa. (21)
ततो निहतनाथानां राक्षसीनां गृहे गृहे। यथाहमेवं रुदती तथा भूयो न संशयः॥ २२॥
Meaning
“Then, even as I stand weeping thus, more so would be heard in every house wails of the ogresses, whose lords would have been slain: there is no doubt about it. (22)
अन्विष्य रक्षसां लङ्कां कुर्याद् रामः सलक्ष्मणः। नहि ताभ्यां रिपुर्दृष्टो मुहूर्तमपि जीवति॥ २३॥
Meaning
“Having searched out Laṅkā, he with Lakṣmaṇa will encompass the destruction of ogres. An enemy seen by them would not survive even for a while. (23)
चिताधूमाकुलपथा गृध्रमण्डलमण्डिता। अचिरेणैव कालेन श्मशानसदृशी भवेत्॥ २४॥
Meaning
“With its streets obscured by the smoke of funeral piles and graced with wreaths of vultures, Laṅkā will at no distant date look like a crematorium. (24)
अचिरेणैव कालेन प्राप्स्याम्येनं मनोरथम्। दुष्प्रस्थानोऽयमाभाति सर्वेषां वो विपर्ययः॥ २५॥
Meaning
“I shall at no distant time attain the object of my desire; for this evil conduct of you all in the shape of my abduction and oppression means your annihilation. (25)
यादृशानि तु दृश्यन्ते लङ्कायामशुभानि तु। अचिरेणैव कालेन भविष्यति हतप्रभा॥ २६॥
Meaning
“The type of ill-omens, which are actually seen here in Laṅkā lead one to conclude that the city will at no distant date be shorn of its splendour. (26)
नूनं लङ्का हते पापे रावणे राक्षसाधिपे। शोषमेष्यति दुर्धर्षा प्रमदा विधवा यथा॥ २७॥
Meaning
“Surely when the sinful Rāvaṇa, the suzerain ruler of ogres, is slain, Laṅkā, which appears difficult to storm now, will wither up like a young widow. (27)
पुण्योत्सवसमृद्धा च नष्टभर्त्री सराक्षसा। भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का नष्टभर्त्री यथांगना॥ २८॥
Meaning
“Abounding in festive ceremonies at present, the city of Laṅkā, when its ruler is dead and gone with the ogres inhabiting it, will look like a widow. (28)
नूनं राक्षसकन्यानां रुदतीनां गृहे गृहे। श्रोष्यामि नचिरादेव दुःखार्तानामिह ध्वनिम्॥ २९॥
Meaning
“I shall assuredly hear before long the cry of distress of ogre maids stricken with sorrow and weeping in every dwelling here. (29)
सान्धकारा हतद्योता हतराक्षसपुंगवा। भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का निर्दग्धा रामसायकैः॥ ३०॥ यदि नाम स शूरो मां रामो रक्तान्तलोचनः। जानीयाद् वर्तमानां यां राक्षसस्य निवेशने॥ ३१॥
Meaning
“Consumed by Śrī Rāma’s shafts, Laṅkā, with its principal ogres slain and its splendour dissipated, will look gloomy, if only that heroic Śrī Rāma, the corners of whose eyes are red, comes to know of my being present in the abode of Rāvaṇa. (30-31)
अनेन तु नृशंसेन रावणेनाधमेन मे। समयो यस्तु निर्दिष्टस्तस्य कालोऽयमागतः॥ ३२॥
Meaning
“The expiry of that time-limit of twelve months which was actually fixed by this cruel and vile Rāvaṇa for my death, has well-nigh arrived, as it is coming only two months hence. (32)
स च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुष्टेन वर्तते। अकार्यं ये न जानन्ति नैर्ऋताः पापकारिणः॥ ३३॥
Meaning
“Again, the aforesaid death of mine has been ordained in the near future by the wicked fellow in the presence of these sinful ogresses, who have no idea of what should not be perpetrated. (33)
अधर्मात् तु महोत्पातो भविष्यति हि साम्प्रतम्। नैते धर्मं विजानन्ति राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः॥ ३४॥
Meaning
“A great calamity indeed will presently follow from the injustice which is being done to me. These flesh-eating ogres, however, attach no value to virtue. (34)
ध्रुवं मां प्रातराशार्थं राक्षसः कल्पयिष्यति। साहं कथं करिष्यामि तं विना प्रियदर्शनम्॥ ३५॥
Meaning
“The ogre will undoubtedly cut me into slices for his morning repast. As such what shall I do in the absence of Śrī Rāma of pleasing aspect? (35)
रामं रक्तान्तनयनमपश्यन्ती सुदुःखिता। क्षिप्रं वैवस्वतं देवं पश्येयं पतिना विना॥ ३६॥
Meaning
“Unable to see Śrī Rāma, the corners of whose eyes are red, and therefore sore distressed, I shall soon see God Yama (the god of death, son of the sun-god) in the absence of my husband. (36)
नाजानाज्जीवतीं रामः स मां भरतपूर्वजः। जानन्तौ तु न कुर्यातां नोर्व्यां हि परिमार्गणम्॥ ३७॥
Meaning
“Śrī Rāma, that elder brother of Bharata, does not know me to be living, nor does Lakṣmaṇa. Had they known it, it cannot be imagined that they would not prosecute their search all over the globe. (37)
नूनं ममैव शोकेन स वीरो लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। देवलोकमितो यातस्त्यक्त्वा देहं महीतले॥ ३८॥
Meaning
“Leaving his body on the earth’s surface precisely through grief caused by separation from me, that gallant elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa has surely departed to the heavenly world from this globe. (38)
धन्या देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। मम पश्यन्ति ये वीरं रामं राजीवलोचनम्॥ ३९॥
Meaning
“Happy in heaven are the gods as well as the Gandharvas, the Siddhas and the eminent Ṛṣis, who are able to look on my husband, the heroic Śrī Rāma of lotus-like eyes. (39)
अथवा नहि तस्यार्थो धर्मकामस्य धीमतः। मया रामस्य राजर्षेर्भार्यया परमात्मनः॥ ४०॥
Meaning
“Or, that royal sage, the sagacious Śrī Rāma, who seeks religious merit alone and has become one with the Supreme Spirit, has no longer any use for me, his wife. (40)
दृश्यमाने भवेत् प्रीतिः सौहृदं नास्त्यदृश्यतः। नाशयन्ति कृतघ्नास्तु न रामो नाशयिष्यति॥ ४१॥
Meaning
“Love sticks to one remaining before one’s eyes while it no longer exists for one who is out of sight. But the ungrateful alone spurn love; Śrī Rāma would never do so. (41)
किं वा मय्यगुणाः केचित् किं वा भाग्यक्षयो हि मे। या हि सीता वरार्हेण हीना रामेण भामिनी॥ ४२॥
Meaning
“Or, are there any shortcomings in me or perhaps it is loss of fortune in my case due to which, I, Sītā, a young lady, deserving his protection, stand separated from Śrī Rāma, who is worthy of excellent possessions. (42)
श्रेयो मे जीवितान्मर्तुं विहीनाया महात्मना। रामादक्लिष्टचारित्राच्छूराच्छत्रुनिबर्हणात् ॥ ४३॥
Meaning
“Death is preferable to life for me, who stand disunited from the high-souled and heroic Śrī Rāma, who is unwearied in maintaining his character and who is capable of exterminating his foes. (43)
अथवा न्यस्तशस्त्रौ तौ वने मूलफलाशनौ। भ्रातरौ हि नरश्रेष्ठौ चरन्तौ वनगोचरौ॥ ४४॥
Meaning
“Or, those two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the foremost of men, roaming, as they do, in the forest as dwellers of the forest and living on roots and fruits alone have actually given up their arms and taken a vow of non-violence. (44)
अथवा राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना। छद्मना घातितौ शूरौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ ४५॥
Meaning
“Or, the two gallant brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, have been caused to be killed through some trick by the evil-minded Rāvaṇa, the lord of ogres. (45)
साहमेवंविधे काले मर्तुमिच्छामि सर्वतः। न च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुःखेऽतिवर्तति॥ ४६॥
Meaning
“Situated as I am, I wish to die by all means at such a juncture; my death, however, is not ordained even in my present extreme agony. (46)
धन्याः खलु महात्मानो मुनयः सत्यसम्मताः। जितात्मानो महाभागा येषां न स्तः प्रियाप्रिये॥ ४७॥
Meaning
“Happy indeed are the magnanimous and highly blessed hermits by whom the highest Reality has been fully recognized as their very Self and who have subdued the self and in whose eyes the pleasing and the displeasing do not exist. (47)
प्रियान्न सम्भवेद् दुःखमप्रियादधिकं भवेत्। ताभ्यां हि ते वियुज्यन्ते नमस्तेषां महात्मनाम्॥ ४८॥
Meaning
“To them sorrow does not follow from the pleasing, being snatched away, nor does it grow intense through the displeasing being met with, inasmuch as they are rid of joy and sorrow. Hail to those high-souled ones! (48)
साहं त्यक्ता प्रियेणैव रामेण विदितात्मना। प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि पापस्य रावणस्य गता वशम्॥ ४९॥
Meaning
“Situated as I am, I, who have been forsaken by my beloved Śrī Rāma himself, a knower of the Self, and I, who have fallen into the clutches of the sinful Rāvaṇa, shall give up the ghost.” (49)
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