Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 47

Meaning

Encompassing Śri Rāma (a scion of Raghu), now that the aforesaid son of Rāvaṇa had gone far into Laṅkā, his purpose accomplished, (nay) having drawn up their ranks in battle array and seizing trees, the foremost among the monkeys and bears, viz., Hanumān, Aṅgada. Nīla, Suṣeṇa, Kumuda, Nala, Gaja, Gavākṣa, Śarabha, Gandhamādana, Jāmbavān, Rṣabha, Skandha, Ramabha, Śatabali and Pṛthu, who were always alert, now guarded Śrī Rāma on all sides (lest some harm might come to him). (1—3)

Meaning

Surveying all the quarters, nay, looking up as well on either side, the monkeys thought that ogres had come even when blades of grass stirred. (4)

Meaning

Having dismissed his son, who had conquered Indra (the ruler of gods), Rāvaṇa too, who felt highly rejoiced, thereupon summoned the ogresses guarding Sītā. (5)

Meaning

The ogresses (in question) as also Trijaṭā waited upon him in response to his command. Full of joy, Rāvaṇa, the suzerain lord of ogres, thereupon spoke as follows to the aforesaid ogresses: (6)

Meaning

“Speak to Sītā (the princess of the Videha territory) about Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa having been killed by Indrajit. Placing her in the aerial car, Puṣpaka, then show to her the two princes killed in battle. (7)

Meaning

“That husband of hers, being proud of whose support she does not submit to me, has been killed alongwith his younger brother in the van of a battle. (8)

Meaning

“Rid of fear, free from perturbation and having lost all hope of meeting her husband, nay, adorned with all her jewels, Sītā, a princess of Mithilā, shall now wait upon me. (9)

Meaning

“Having turned back (to the Aśoka grove) on seeing Rāma fallen under the sway of Death with Lakṣmaṇa on the field of battle, and finding no other haven, nay, rid of all hope, the large eyed lady will seek me of her own accord today.” Saying “Amen!” on hearing the aforesaid command of that evil-minded Rāvṇa, the ogresses in question moved to the place where Puṣpaka (the aerial car) was. Then, taking Puṣpaka, the ogresses conducted the car under orders of Rāvaṇa to the presence of the celebrated princess of Mithilā, staying in the Aśoka grove. Taking Sītā, who had been overpowered by grief caused by the report about the death of her husband, the ogresses for their part then helped her to ascend the aerial car, Puṣpaka. Then, placing Sītā alongwith Trijaṭā in Puṣpaka, the ogresses proceeded to show Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to her. In this way Rāvaṇa caused her to fly over Laṅkā (the city dressed with rows of flags and pennons). (10—15)

Meaning

The delighted Rāvaṇa (the lord of ogres) also had it widely proclaimed in Laṅkā that Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) as also Lakṣmaṇa had been killed in combat by Indrajit. (16)

Meaning

Flying in the aerial car with Trijaṭā, Sītā for her part beheld a large army of the monkeys actually destroyed. (17)

Meaning

Nay, she also found the ogres excessively delighted in mind and the monkeys, sore stricken with agony, standing by the side of Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. (18)

Meaning

Sītā then saw both the heroes, Lakṣmaṇa and Śrī Rāma, laying unconscious on the ground on a bed of arrows, their armour shattered and bows cast aside. (19-20)

Meaning

Stricken with agony to behold the two gallant brothers, the foremost of men, who were distinguished heroes and jewels among men and had lotus-like eyes, stretched on a bed of arrows in that wretched plight like the two sons of the fire-god (Śākha and Viśākha) lying on a bed of reeds, Sītā wailed piteously and vehemently. (21-22)

Meaning

Gazing on her husband as well as on Lakṣmaṇa tossing about in the dust, the dark-eyed Sītā (Janaka’s daughter) of faultless limbs burst into sobs. (23)

Meaning

Observing the aforesaid two brothers, who were powerful as the offspring of gods, and suspecting their death, Sītā, full of tears and agony, and smitten with grief, spoke as follows: (24)