Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

रावणेन तु वैदेही तदा पृष्टा जिहीर्षुणा
परिव्राजक रूपेण शशंस आत्मानम् आत्मना

rāvaṇena tu vaidehī tadā pṛṣṭā jihīrṣuṇā
parivrājaka rūpeṇa śaśaṃsa ātmānam ātmanā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

When Ravana whose intention is to abduct her has enquired thus, then on the basis of his Brahman friar's mien Seetha informed about herself on her own. [3-47-1]

VERSE 2

ब्राह्मणः च अतिथिः च एष अनुक्तो हि शपेत माम्
इति ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तम् तु सीता वचनम् अब्रवीत्

brāhmaṇaḥ ca atithiḥ ca eṣa anukto hi śapeta mām
iti dhyātvā muhūrtam tu sītā vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Thinking briefly that, 'he is a Brahman and an untimely guest, he will indeed curse me if he is not replied,' Seetha spoke this sentence. [3-47-2]

PURPORT

A lie cannot be uttered to a sanyaasi, much less to a Brahman. This friar appears as someone who is attired as a sanyaasi to fill his stomach. But he is Brahman, because he came booming Vedic hymns, which no other lesser Brahman can do. Thus, he is someone with a perfect Vedic background... and according to the saying: yatiinaam puujanam kaaryam striyaa vaa puruSena... ' an ascetic is to be revered either by a lady or a gentleman...' and thus he cannot be turned out saying 'my husband is not at home...' and if he is neglected he may curse...' these are the criss-cross thoughts of Seetha at that moment. Ghastly Viradha boldly carried her off at one time, but she is yet to see the cunningness of a demon. So with a half-belief and half-heart she started to talk to him.

VERSE 3

दुहिता जनकस्य अहम् मैथिलस्य महात्मनः
सीता नाम्ना अस्मि भद्रम् ते रामस्य महिषी प्रिया

duhitā janakasya aham maithilasya mahātmanaḥ
sītā nāmnā asmi bhadram te rāmasya mahiṣī priyā

SYNONYMS

aham: I am | maithilasya [rājasya] mahātmanaḥ janakasya duhitā: of Mithila, [King's,] noble-souled, Janaka's, daughter | nāmnā sītā asmi: by name, Seetha, I am | rāmasya priyā mahiṣī [bhāryā]: Rama's, dear, queen [wife] | te bhadram: let safety betide you. |

TRANSLATION

"I am the daughter of noble-souled Janaka, the king of Mithila, by name I am Seetha, and the dear wife and queen of Rama, let safety betide you. [3-47-3]

PURPORT

Here some versions use bhaaryaa 'wife' while some use mahiSii 'queen...' and this bhadram te coupled with jihiirSuNaa 'abduction wisher...' is taken as a forewarning to Ravana, as she immediately says who her husband is, as she is aware that this friar is Ravana. Then it implicitly means 'you who wish to abduct me, think twice, for my husband is Rama, and let safety prevail on whole of your dynasty, for it is hard to deal with Rama or with his dear queen-wife...'

VERSE 4

उषित्वा द्वा दश समाः इक्ष्वाकूणाम् निवेशने
भुंजाना मानुषान् भोगान् सर्व काम समृद्धिनी

uṣitvā dvā daśa samāḥ ikṣvākūṇām niveśane
bhuṃjānā mānuṣān bhogān sarva kāma samṛddhinī

SYNONYMS

dvā daśa samāḥ: two, ten [twelve,] years | ikśvākūṇām niveśane uṣitvā: Ikshvaku's, in residence, on residing | mānuṣān bhogān bhunjānā: humanly, prosperities, relishing | sarva kāma samṛddhinī = all, ceriśes, in sumptuosity: I was. |

TRANSLATION

"On residing in the residence of Ikshvaku-s in Ayodhya for twelve years, I was in sumptuosity of all cherishes while relishing all humanly prosperities. [3-47-4]

PURPORT

Mythically Seetha is Goddess Lakshmi and an accorder of prosperity. Here she is saying that she had to enjoy 'humanly indulgences...' because her husband incarnated himself as a man, and since she had to enjoy along with him in her in-law's place, she enjoyed those luxuries. Or, if this is read as a+ maanuSa bhogaan 'superhuman delights...' [of course, not 'inhuman delights...'] she enjoyed heavenly comforts as she was enjoying as Lakshmi in vaikunTha 'Milky Ocean of Vishnu.' And then, she is indirectly telling Ravana that she has come now as Seetha, after immolating herself as Vedavati, in an earlier incarnation, only to end Ravana.

VERSE 5

तत्र त्रयो दशे वर्षे राज अमंत्र्यत प्रभुः
अभिषेचयितुम् रामम् समेतो राज मन्त्रिभिः

tatra trayo daśe varṣe rāja amaṃtryata prabhuḥ
abhiṣecayitum rāmam sameto rāja mantribhiḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"In the thirteenth year the lordly king Dasharatha deliberated together with his imperial ministers to anoint Rama as Crown Prince of Ayodhya. [3-47-5]

VERSE 6

तस्मिन् संभ्रियमाणे तु राघवस्य अभिषेचने
कैकेयी नाम भर्तारम् मम आर्या याचते वरम्

tasmin saṃbhriyamāṇe tu rāghavasya abhiṣecane
kaikeyī nāma bhartāram mama āryā yācate varam

SYNONYMS

rāghavasya: Raghava's | tasmin abhiṣecane sambhriyamāṇe tu: that, anointment, when being organised, but | kaikeyī nāma = k͟haikeyi, knovn as: named | mama āryā: my, venerable lady [mother-in-law] | bhartāram varam yācate = of her husband: Dasharatha, boon, begged. |

TRANSLATION

"When Raghava's anointment was being organised my venerable mother-in-law known as Kaikeyi begged her husband Dasharatha for a boon. [3-47-6]

VERSE 7

प्रतिगृह्य तु कैकेयी श्वशुरम् सुकृतेन मे
मम प्रव्राजनम् भर्तुर् भरतस्य अभिषेचनम्

pratigṛhya tu kaikeyī śvaśuram sukṛtena me
mama pravrājanam bhartur bharatasya abhiṣecanam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Restraining my veracious father-in-law by a good deed once done by her in his respect, Kaikeyi besought two boons from him, namely expatriation of my husband, and anointment of her son Bharata. [3-47-7, 8a]

VERSE 8

न अद्य भोक्ष्ये न च स्वप्स्ये न पास्ये कदाचन

na adya bhokṣye na ca svapsye na pāsye kadācana

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

" 'If Rama is anointed now, come what may I will not eat, sleep, or drink, and my life ends this way,' thus Kaikeyi was adamantine, and the king and my father-in-law entreated her who is nagging with meaningful riches, but she did not make good on that entreaty. [3-47-8b, 9, 10a]

VERSE 10

मम भर्ता महातेजा वयसा पंच विंशकः

mama bhartā mahātejā vayasā paṃca viṃśakaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"My great-resplendent husband was of twenty-five years of age at that time, and to me eighteen years are reckoned up from my birth. [3-47-10b, 11a]

PURPORT

These foots are said to be nonexistent in some more ancient mms. But lengthy narrations are there in calculating the age of Rama and Seetha, at this point of legend with these stanzas. The letter bha in the line mama bhartaa mahaatejaa is the ninth letter of Gayatri hymn and thus the ninth book of Ramayana with thousand couplets is started from here. The whole of Ramayana is with twenty-four thousand verses and Gayatri hymn has twenty-four letters, and each book of Ramayana contains a thousand verses, starting with each letter of Gayatri. This is the then classification of the cantos of this epic and such grouping of verses is nonexistent now.

VERSE 11

राम इति प्रथितो लोके सत्यवान् शीलवान् शुचिः

rāma iti prathito loke satyavān śīlavān śuciḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Rama - thus he is exalted in the world, an unambiguous, unblemished, unsullied one, and a broad-eyed ambidextrous one, who delights in bringing universal welfare, is my husband. [3-47-11b, 12a]

PURPORT

The dexterity of an archer depends mainly on his sighting and targeting eye. Hence, the eyes and dexterity are to be coupled instead of cleaving them as two attributes of Rama. Otherwise, in Seetha's saying that 'my husband is a broad-eyed one...' it does not make any sense to Ravana, because Ravana's eyes are much more bigger and bloodshot. Thus 'my ambidextrous husband's eyes are broad puNDariika vishaala akshaH, and those eyes are a couple of fish-eye lenses of a camera and can view in 360º, thus you cannot escape their target, in any angle...' Further, these and some more attributes in the coming verses like simha uraska etc., they are the very same words coined by Sage Narada, while informing Valmiki about Rama in the first chapter of Bala Kanda. Some think such repetitions are essentially Homeric. But in Indian scripts they are not mere repetitions but reiteration of the very same concept in the very same words, which is not an epical flaw in view of the ruling aadaraat punarukti, aadaraat dvirukti... 'an affectionate reiteration...' Hence, the very same words are put on the tongue of the principle character, Seetha.

VERSE 12

कामार्तः च महाराजः पिता दशरथः स्वयम्

kāmārtaḥ ca mahārājaḥ pitā daśarathaḥ svayam

SYNONYMS

b, 13a| kāma ārtaḥ = one vho is: love, sick - for Kaikeyi | mahārājaḥ pitā daśarathaḥ svayam: great-king, [his, Rama's] father, Dasharatha, personally | kaikeyyāḥ priya kāma artham: for Kaikeyi's, cherish [aspiration,] desired [by her,] for fulfilling | tam rāmam na abhiṣecayat: him, Rama, not, anointed. |

TRANSLATION

"But Rama's father Dasharatha was lovesick for Kaikeyi and to fulfil her desired aspiration that great king did not anoint Rama. [3-47-12b, 13a]

VERSE 13

अभिषेकाय तु पितुः समीपम् रामम् आगतम्

abhiṣekāya tu pituḥ samīpam rāmam āgatam

SYNONYMS

b, 14a| abhiṣekāya: for anointment | pituḥ samīpam āgatam: to father's, presence of, [when] arrived | mama bhartāram rāmam: to my, husband Rama | kaikeyī iti drutam [dhṛtam] vacaḥ uvāca: Kaikeyi, these, readily [decidedly,] words, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"When Rama arrived in the presence of his father, Kaikeyi readily and decidedly spoke these words to my husband. [3-47-b, 14a]

VERSE 14

तव पित्रा समाज्ञप्तम् मम इदम् शृणु राघव

tava pitrā samājñaptam mama idam śṛṇu rāghava

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

" 'What your father has proclaimed, oh, Raghava, that may be heard from me. He said, 'let this thornless kingdom be accorded to Bharata.' [3-47-14b, 15a]

VERSE 15

त्वया तु खलु वस्तव्यम् नव वर्षाणि पंच च

tvayā tu khalu vastavyam nava varṣāṇi paṃca ca

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"And you, oh, Kakutstha Rama, indeed have to inhabit the forests for nine plus five years, hence you repair to forests and redeem your father from the remorse of perjury.' [3-47-15b, 16a]

VERSE 16

तथा इति उवाच ताम् रामः कैकेयीम् अकुतो भयः

tathā iti uvāca tām rāmaḥ kaikeyīm akuto bhayaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 17a| a kutaḥ bhayaḥ = not, from anyvhere, one vho has fear: an unfearing one from any side, Rama | dṛḍha vrataḥ: resolute, to pledge [strong-willed one] | mama bhartā rāmaḥ: my, husband, Rama | tathā iti: so be it | tām kaikeyīm uvāca: to her, to Kaikeyi, having said | tasyāḥ tat vacaḥ cakāra: her, that, word [dictate,] made good [followed.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'As an unfearing one from any quarter and as a resolute one in his pledge my husband Rama said 'so be it' to Kaikeyi and followed her dictate. [3-47-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

दद्यात् न प्रतिगृह्णीयात् सत्यम् ब्रूयात् न च अनृतम्

dadyāt na pratigṛhṇīyāt satyam brūyāt na ca anṛtam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"My husband is evermore a renderer but not a recipient, and forever he speaks truth, and not the untruth, least of all. Oh, Brahman, this is the unalterable and unsurpassable vow of Rama. [3-47-17b, 18a]

PURPORT

In Maha Bharata Dharmaraja is informed that 'a king shall give, but he shall not beseech, he can perform a Vedic Ritual but cannot make it performed by others, he can learn Veda-s, but cannot teach them, he shall endeavour to govern the people [properly...] dadyaat raajaa na yaaceta yajeta na yaajayeta | na adhyaapayet adhiyiita prajaan ca paripaalayet || bhaarata - raaja dharma

VERSE 18

तस्य भ्राता तु वैमात्रो लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान्

tasya bhrātā tu vaimātro lakṣmaṇo nāma vīryavān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"One known as Lakshmana is such a Rama's brother from another mother, and he is a valorous one, tigerly-man, and an eliminator of enemies in war. [3-47-18b, 19a]

PURPORT

A stepmother is called as vi maata or dvaimaata and it is said vaimaatreyo vimaatR^ija - amara kosha one is other mother, the other is second-mother, both are the nomenclatures of a stepmother.

VERSE 19

स भ्राता लक्ष्मणो नाम धर्म चारी दृढ व्रतः

sa bhrātā lakṣmaṇo nāma dharma cārī dṛḍha vrataḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"He who is known as Lakshmana, a follower of virtue and steadfast in his commitment, followed Rama handling his bow as a helpmate, when Rama was proceeding to forests along with me. [3-47-19b, 20a]

PURPORT

Some texts use the word brahma caarii 'celibate' basing on the word Rama used when saying about Lakshmana to Shuurpanakha about Lakshmana as apuurvii while some others use as above.

VERSE 20

जटी तापस रूपेण मया सह सह अनुजः

jaṭī tāpasa rūpeṇa mayā saha saha anujaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Because Rama always abides in probity and resolutely vowed to it, he entered Dandaka forest in the aspect of a tufty haired saint along with me and his brother. [3-47-20b, 21a]

VERSE 21

ते वयम् प्रच्युता राज्यात् कैकेय्याः तु कृते त्रयः

te vayam pracyutā rājyāt kaikeyyāḥ tu kṛte trayaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Such as we are, oh, eminent Brahman, we three are moving about the impenetrable Dandaka forest just by our own mettle as we fell down from kingdom owing to Kaikeyi. [3-47-21b, 22a]

VERSE 22

समाश्वस मुहूर्तम् तु शक्यम् वस्तुम् इह त्वया

samāśvasa muhūrtam tu śakyam vastum iha tvayā

SYNONYMS

b, 23| muhūrtam samāśvasa: for a moment, be comfortable | tvayā iha vastum śakyam: by you, here, to take rest, possible | me bhartā: my, husband | rurūn: stag with black stripes | godhān: mongooses like [civet-like mammals of the family Viverridae, esp. of the genus Herpestes, Marathi manguus] | varāhān ca: wild-boars, also | hatvā: on killing | bahu amiṣān ādāya: aplenty, meat, on taking | puṣkalam vanyam ādāya: plentiful, forest produce, on taking | āgamiṣyati: will be coming [soon.] |

TRANSLATION

"Be comfortable for a moment, here it is possible for you to make a sojourn, and soon my husband will be coming on taking plentiful forest produce, and on killing stags, mongooses, wild boars he fetches meat, aplenty. [3-47-22b, 23]

VERSE 24

सः त्वम् नाम च गोत्रम् च कुलम् आचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः
एकः च दण्डकारण्ये किम् अर्थम् चरसि द्विज

saḥ tvam nāma ca gotram ca kulam ācakṣva tattvataḥ
ekaḥ ca daṇḍakāraṇye kim artham carasi dvija

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Such as you are, oh, Brahman, you may make mention of your name, parentage and caste, in their actuality. For what reason you are wandering in Dandaka forest lonesomely?" Thus Seetha questioned Ravana. [3-47-24]

PURPORT

She is addressing him as 'oh, Brahman...' and yet asking his caste. This is a tricky stanza. This implies her knowledge and/or ignorance about Ravana. As a housewife, it is a natural question to be put to an out-of-way friar moving in the deep of forests. Here, neither a village, nor a single family, nor even a human being is available to accord alms, and this odd almsman is moving here who is supposed to move about villages as said: bhiksha artham graamam pravishet. Or, she must be asking him about his caste, creed etc., when he was a householder. But it is out of place. On the other hand, if Seetha is from a well-trained family, she is not supposed to question the caste, creed, and name of a real sanyaasi. Again, she is asking him to reveal himself 'in essence, truthfully.' She might have thought him to be a cursing Brahman in the first instance, but she might have found him out to be a pseudo-sanyaasi. Now that she is slowly realising that he may not be a proper Brahman either, she may be asking him straightforwardly. Because Ravana is coming out of Brahman's guise in next two stanzas, it is said that she pointedly asked him as above.

VERSE 25

एवम् ब्रुवत्याम् सीतायाम् राम पत्नीआम् महाबलः
प्रत्युवाच उत्तरम् तीव्रम् रावणो राक्षसाधिपः

evam bruvatyām sītāyām rāma patnīām mahābalaḥ
pratyuvāca uttaram tīvram rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāma patnīām [patnyām] sītāyām: to Rama's, wife, Seetha | evam bruvatyām: this way, while still speaking | mahābalaḥ rākṣasādhipaḥ rāvaṇaḥ: great-mighty, demons, king, Ravana | tīvram uttaram: brusque, reply | prati uvāca: in turn, said [replied.] |

TRANSLATION

Ravana, the great-mighty king of demons, brusquely replied Seetha, the wife of Rama, while she is still speaking in this way. [3-47-25]

VERSE 26

येन वित्रासिता लोकाः स देव असुर मानुषा
अहम् सः रावणो नाम सीते रक्षो गण ईश्वरः

yena vitrāsitā lokāḥ sa deva asura mānuṣā
aham saḥ rāvaṇo nāma sīte rakṣo gaṇa īśvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Seetha, of whom all the worlds composed of gods, demons and humans are highly startled, I am that sovereign of hosts of demons, known as Ravana. [3-47-26]

VERSE 27

त्वाम् तु कांचन वर्ण आभाम् दृष्ट्वा कौशेय वासिनीम्
रतिम् स्वकेषु दारेषु न अधिगच्छामि अनिन्दिते

tvām tu kāṃcana varṇa ābhām dṛṣṭvā kauśeya vāsinīm
ratim svakeṣu dāreṣu na adhigacchāmi anindite

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"On seeing you, oh, impeccable one, glittering with golden complexion and attired in ochry-silks, I derive no pleasure in my wives. [3-47-27]

PURPORT

Ravana as a devotee of Lakshmi said the above as a renouncer. tvaam dR^iSTvaa 'on seeing you...' after a long time... svakeSu 'in my kith and kin...' daareSu wives...' ratim 'pleasure, involvement...' na adhigacChaami 'not, I attain...' 'On seeing you, I no longer can attain pleasure with my kith and kin, or with my wives... for I have seen my ultimate motherly goddess... thus I am ready to renounce this accursed being of Ravana...' Maheshvara Tirtha.

VERSE 28

बह्वीनाम् उत्तम स्त्रीणाम् आहृतानाम् इतः ततः
सर्वासाम् एव भद्रम् ते मम अग्र महिषी भव

bahvīnām uttama strīṇām āhṛtānām itaḥ tataḥ
sarvāsām eva bhadram te mama agra mahiṣī bhava

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"You become my prime queen above all the choicest women with superior status, whom I have appropriated from here and there. [3-47-28]

PURPORT

Ravana as devotee is saying: aaR^itaanaam uttamam striiNaam 'To all of the choicest women appropriated by me...; mama to me'; agra mahiSiiyaa 'to the one who is my prime queen'; tasyaaH ca mama ca to her and to me; bhava iishvarii you be the ruling deity; 'To all of the choicest women appropriated by me... and to the one who is my present prime queen, namely Mandodari, to her and to me, and to all of us, you be the ruling deity...' Tiirtha.

VERSE 29

लंका नाम समुद्रस्य मध्ये मम महापुरी
सागरेण परिक्षिप्ता निविष्टा गिरि मूर्धनि

laṃkā nāma samudrasya madhye mama mahāpurī
sāgareṇa parikṣiptā niviṣṭā giri mūrdhani

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Nestled on a mountaintop my great city known as Lanka is there in the midst of an ocean and all over encompassed by an ocean. [3-47-29]

VERSE 30

तत्र सीते मया सार्धम् वनेषु विचरिष्यसि
न च अस्य वन वासस्य स्पृहयिष्यसि भामिनि

tatra sīte mayā sārdham vaneṣu vicariṣyasi
na ca asya vana vāsasya spṛhayiṣyasi bhāmini

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Seetha, there you can saunter in pleasure-gardens along with me, and oh, lady with resentment, you will not think back to this forest-living, at all events. [3-47-30]

PURPORT

The word bhaamini is an addressing to a beautiful lady, who is with some anger or resentment kopanaa saa eva bhaaminii - amara kosha and Ravana mistook Seetha's fury as 'an anger in passion.'

VERSE 31

पंच दास्यः सहस्राणि सर्व आभरण भूषिताः
सीते परिचरिष्यन्ति भार्या भवसि मे यदि

paṃca dāsyaḥ sahasrāṇi sarva ābharaṇa bhūṣitāḥ
sīte paricariṣyanti bhāryā bhavasi me yadi

SYNONYMS

sīte: oh, Seetha | me bhāryā bhavasi yadi: my, wife, you become, if | sarva ābharaṇa bhūṣitāḥ: all [every description,] ornaments, adorned with | panca sahasrāṇi dāsyaḥ: five, thousand, handmaidens | paricariṣyanti: will be in your attendance. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Seetha, if you become my wife five thousand handmaidens adorned with ornaments of every description will be in your attendance." Thus Ravana said to Seetha. [3-47-31]

PURPORT

Ravana, the devotee, is saying panca sahasraaNi daasyaH 'five thousand servants...' me 'with me... together with me' paricariSyasi yadi tava 'if we all render service to you...' then you will be baaryaa; bha + aaryaa; bhaayaa= kaantyaa, aaryaa= puujyaa 'by your splendour...' bhavasi you will become the venerable Goddess Lakshmi by your own splendour while thousands are serving you...'

VERSE 32

रावणेन एवम् उक्ता तु कुपिता जनक आत्मजा
प्रत्युवाच अनवद्यांगी तम् अनादृत्य राक्षसम्

rāvaṇena evam uktā tu kupitā janaka ātmajā
pratyuvāca anavadyāṃgī tam anādṛtya rākṣasam

SYNONYMS

rāvaṇena evam uktā tu: by Ravana, this way, she who is said, but | an a vadya angī = vithout, not, appreciable, limbed: one with flawless limbs - Seetha | janaka ātmajā kupitā: Janaka's, daughter, is infuriated | tam rākṣasam: him, that demon | an ādṛtya = not, honouring: discourteously | pratyuvāca: replied. |

TRANSLATION

When Ravana said in this way, Seetha the daughter of Janaka, a flawless one by her physique, dishonoured and replied that demon. [3-47-32]

PURPORT

Here the word tu in raavaNena evam uktaa tu is said as tu shabdena puurvokta upacaara vacana vilakshaNa vacana it means ultimately as - Seetha spoke in derision.

VERSE 33

महा गिरिम् इव अकंप्यम् महेन्द्र सदृशम् पतिम्
महा उदधिम् इव अक्षोभ्यम् अहम् रामम् अनुव्रता

mahā girim iva akaṃpyam mahendra sadṛśam patim
mahā udadhim iva akṣobhyam aham rāmam anuvratā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"I have avowed to adhere to such a husband Rama, who is inflexible like a sturdy mountain, comparable to lordly Indra, unshakable like a vast ocean. [3-47-33]

PURPORT

Vividly: 'A mountain will be unswerving even if a hundred thunderbolts strike it at once, thus is my husband... but you, you are always swerving while hankering after your petty cherishes... thus, you are a straw in the wind... my husband is a coequal of Indra, while you are humiliated by Indra's son. The ocean will be turbulent on its surface but it will be calm and clear at its abyss, engulfing unusual treasures... though my husband appears as a passionate person, an indulgent person in humanly pursuits, from hunting games to hollering, in worldly agonies and ecstasies, but at his heart, he is like the fathomless serene ocean... I have avowed to follow him in this lifetime.'

VERSE 34

सर्व लक्षण संपन्नम् न्यग्रोध परि मण्डलम्
सत्य संधम् महाभागम् रामम् अनुव्रता

sarva lakṣaṇa saṃpannam nyagrodha pari maṇḍalam
satya saṃdham mahābhāgam rāmam anuvratā

SYNONYMS

[aham: I am] | sarva lakśaṇa sampannam: all, endowments, enriched | nyagrodha pari maṇḍalam: banyan tree [like,] surmounted, with orbicularity | satya sandham: truthfulness, as hs target | rāmam anuvratā: to such a Rama., I avowed to adhere. |

TRANSLATION

"He who is enriched with all endowments, and who is like a banyan tree with its surmounted orbicularity, the high-minded one with truthfulness alone is his target, and I am avowed to adhere to such a Rama. [3-47-34]

PURPORT

The banyan tree is an Indian fig tree, Ficus benghalensis, the branches of which hang down and root themselves. The simile of a banyan tree to Rama says that: he is an atom in the atomic seed of that tree. On its growth, it spreads so wide and broad and every branch take its own root like the manifold growth of this universe. Hence, every individual being is his offspring and progeny. And the whole universe is pervaded by his 'tree-top' like shelter. Secondly, that tree gives shelter to innumerable beings for it is so wide at its apex. Hence, anyone can take shelter under Rama, because he is obliged to oblige all sarva jana anukuulata as said in an ancient saying: kuupa udakam vaTa cchaayaa yuvatiinaam stana dvayam | shiitaa kaale bhavet uShNam uShNa kaale bhavet shiitalam || 'water in a well, banyan tree shade, maiden's two breasts, will warm up in cold season and cool down in hot season...' Govindaraja.

VERSE 35

महाबाहुम् महोरस्कम् सिंह विक्रांत गामिनम्
नृसिंहम् सिंह संकाशम् अहम् रामम् अनुव्रता

mahābāhum mahoraskam siṃha vikrāṃta gāminam
nṛsiṃham siṃha saṃkāśam aham rāmam anuvratā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"He who is ambidextrous, broad-chested, supreme among men, and a lion-like person with the strides of prancing lion, and I am avowed to adhere to such a Rama. [3-47-35]

PURPORT

'His dexterity is evident from the moment he started to save the order of universe, at the time churning Milky Ocean, becoming Mohini, becoming a Fish, a Tortoise etc. His strides are evident, when he as a dwarfish boy strode all the three worlds. As a lion-man, he tore the very stomach of the evil and now he is striding like a prancing lion towards you, for you alone are the prey for that lionised human incarnation...'

VERSE 36

पूर्ण चन्द्र आननम् वीरम् राज वत्सम् जितेन्द्रियम्
पृथु कीर्तिम् महाबाहुम् अहम् रामम् अनुव्रता

pūrṇa candra ānanam vīram rāja vatsam jitendriyam
pṛthu kīrtim mahābāhum aham rāmam anuvratā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"He who is a valiant one with a face like that of full-moon, a prince with his self-conquered, and he who is expressly acclaimed and effectively armed, and I am avowed to adhere to such a Rama. [3-47-36]

PURPORT

'He is a valiant person and he confronts, if need be, his enemies straightforwardly, about which you have heard when your Khara, Dushana, and others are eliminated by him... but you are sneaky and slithery... you are ever a thief, never a valiant one... his face is like a pleasant full-moon, at any given opportunity, while yours is revulsive... and you are like the eclipsing planet Rahu or Ketu, whose effect lasts a few minutes... he is expressly acclaimed for his welfare activities and of course, you are also expressly acclaimed, but, only for your ill-faring actives... the senses of an yet to be crowned prince will be like the unbridled horses... but my husband conquered his own senses like an uncrowned sagacious emperor... while you, though you declare yourself as the monarch of demons, there is not even an iota of self-righteousness in you, befitting even to a petty king... then where is the question of your majesty, monarchy, or sovereignty...' Seetha reiterates the statement 'I am avowed to adhere to such a Rama...' four times. This is daarDhyata - said for the purpose of 'reinforcement' of her statement.

VERSE 37

त्वम् पुनः जंबुकः सिंहीम् माम् इह इच्छसि दुर्लभाम्
न अहम् शक्या त्वया स्प्रष्टुम् आदित्यस्य प्रभा यथा

tvam punaḥ jaṃbukaḥ siṃhīm mām iha icchasi durlabhām
na aham śakyā tvayā spraṣṭum ādityasya prabhā yathā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"You being a fox you woo me who am an absolutely inaccessible lioness? Why wooing, it is impossible for you to touch me as with the untouchable Shine of the Sun. [3-47-37]

PURPORT

A fox usually waits in a ditch until the lion or lioness finishes its feast. The lion will have its lion's share and go away. Then the lioness and her cubs have their share and go away. Then it is the day of the fox-in-the-ditch. 'Like a fox-in-the-ditch, how you dare to come to an inaccessible lioness, when the lion departed...' Next, Sun's wife is Prabha or Shine and she is non-figural resplendent entity. She is perceivable but untouchable. If anyone can lay his hands on her by the dint of his yogic or ascetic practises, and if he baskets that Shine for use in night, that night becomes a day, for it will be shining with sunshine, and thus his pleasurable night is evanished. Thereby he looses his minimal personal comfort of a night and it will be self-ruinous to experiment with such ideas.

VERSE 38

पादपान् कांचनान् नूनम् बहून् पश्यसि मंदभाक्
राघवस्य प्रियाम् भार्याम् यः त्वम् इच्छसि राक्षस

pādapān kāṃcanān nūnam bahūn paśyasi maṃdabhāk
rāghavasya priyām bhāryām yaḥ tvam icchasi rākṣasa

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"You who are an ill-fated demon, oh, demon, by your wooing the dear wife of Raghava, thus you must be visualising many golden trees, undeniably. [3-47-38]

PURPORT

A dying person fantasises golden trees and the like presuming his travel to heaven. By these illusions his death is predictable.

VERSE 39

क्षुधितस्य च सिंहस्य मृग शत्रोः तरस्विनः
आशी विषस्य वदनात् दम्ष्ट्राम् आदातुम् इच्छसि

kṣudhitasya ca siṃhasya mṛga śatroḥ tarasvinaḥ
āśī viṣasya vadanāt damṣṭrām ādātum icchasi

SYNONYMS

mṛga śatroḥ: animals, challenger of | tarasvinaḥ: expeditious ones [expeditious lion and rebounding serpent] | kṣudhitasya simhasya: ravenous, lion's | āśī viṣasya vadanāt: serpent, venomous, from mouth | damṣṭrām ādātum icchasi?: fangs, to twitch, do you wish to? |

TRANSLATION

"Do you wish to twitch fangs from the mouth of a ravenous lion, the expeditious challenger of animals, and from the mouth of a rebounding venomous serpent. [3-47-39]

PURPORT

The simile of lion and serpent is to Rama and the fangs to Seetha. A lion or a snake knows well how to protect its instruments, namely fangs. Hence, Seetha is the fang of expeditious and ravenous Rama in eliminating evil on earth and now he will become a grudging venomous cobra too, for its tail is going to be trampled, by Seetha's abduction. Thus, the instrumentality of Seetha is established and no instrument needs to bother on its own, because its owner takes care of that instrument.

VERSE 40

मंदरम् पर्वत श्रेष्ठम् पाणिना हर्तुम् इच्छसि
काल कूटम् विषम् पीत्वा स्वस्तिमान् गंतुम् इच्छसि

maṃdaram parvata śreṣṭham pāṇinā hartum icchasi
kāla kūṭam viṣam pītvā svastimān gaṃtum icchasi

SYNONYMS

parvata śreṣṭham mandaram: mountain, the best [massive,] Mt. Mandara | pāṇinā hartum icchasi?: by [the sleight of] hand, to steal, do you wish to | kālakūṭam viṣam pītvā: lethal, venom, on consuming | svastimān gantum icchasi?: healthily, to go [decamp,] you wish to? |

TRANSLATION

"Do you wish to steal away the massive Mandara Mountain by the sleight of your hand, but how do you wish to decamp healthily without consuming lethal poison? [3-47-40]

PURPORT

She is reminiscing her emergence. Mt. Mandara is mentioned but not Mt. Himalayas or Mt. Meru, even though they are more massive and lofty. Vishnu used Mt. Mandara as a churn-staff when Milk Ocean was churned, but not Himalayas or Meru and the burden of that Mt. Mandara was sustained by Vishnu alone as a Tortoise, which is impossible for simpletons like Ravana, as Ravana failed to lift Mt. Kailash. Before Lakshmi's emergence from the churning Milk Ocean, Her elder sister haalaahala 'lethal poison' emerged and it could be contained only by Shiva, and now, if Ravana contemplates to consume her elder sister kaalakuuTa, haalaahala 'lethal poison' it is evident what will become of him. This is nidarshana alankaara; samaanya vaakyaartha aikyata 'aesthetics of correspondence...'

VERSE 41

अक्षि सूच्या प्रमृजसि जिह्वया लेढि च क्षुरम्
राघवस्य प्रियाम् भार्याम् अधिगंतुम् त्वम् इच्छसि

akṣi sūcyā pramṛjasi jihvayā leḍhi ca kṣuram
rāghavasya priyām bhāryām adhigaṃtum tvam icchasi

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | rāghavasya priyām bhāryām: Raghava's, dear, wife | adhi gantum [yadi] icchasi = to over, ride: steal off, [if,] wish to | sūcyā: with needle [with needlepoint] | akṣi pra mṛjasi: eyes, verily [deeply,] you wish to wipe [scrape] | jihvayā kṣuram leḍhi: with tongue, licking, razor-blade. |

TRANSLATION

"If you wish to override the dear wife of Raghava, then it is as good as wishing to deeply scrape your eyes with needlepoint, and licking the razorblade with your tongue. [3-47-41]

VERSE 42

अवसज्य शिलाम् कण्ठे समुद्रम् तर्तुम् इच्छसि
सूर्या चन्द्रमसौ च उभौ प्राणिभ्याम् हर्तुम् इच्छसि

avasajya śilām kaṇṭhe samudram tartum icchasi
sūryā candramasau ca ubhau prāṇibhyām hartum icchasi

SYNONYMS

, 43a| yaḥ: which you | rāmasya priyām bhāryām: who, Rama's, dear, at wife | pra dharṣayitum icchasi: bitterly, to intimidate, wishing to | kaṇṭhe śilām avasajya = at neck, boulder, arraying: like dress material | samudram tartum icchasi: ocean, to swim for it, you wish to | sūryā candramasau ubhau: Sun, Moon, both | prāṇibhyām hartum icchasi: with a pair of you hands, to steal, you wish to. |

TRANSLATION

"You who wish to bitterly intimidate the dear wife of Rama are as good as the one who wish to swim an ocean arraying a boulder around his neck, and with a pair of hands you wish to steal away both the Sun and Moon? [3-47-42, 43a]

VERSE 43

अग्निम् प्रज्वलितम् दृष्ट्वा वस्त्रेण आहर्तुम् इच्छसि

agnim prajvalitam dṛṣṭvā vastreṇa āhartum icchasi

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"You who wish to abduct me with an auspicious legend as the wife of Rama, thus you wish to steal away a glowing fire in a cloth-bundle, though evincing it to be highly flaming? [3-47-43b, 44a]

VERSE 44

अयो मुखानाम् शूलानाम् अग्रे चरितुम् इच्छसि
रामस्य सदृशीम् भार्याम् यो अधिगंतुम् त्वम् इच्छसि

ayo mukhānām śūlānām agre caritum icchasi
rāmasya sadṛśīm bhāryām yo adhigaṃtum tvam icchasi

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"You who wish to override the befitting and selfsame wife of Rama, are wishing to tread on the needle-sharp spikes of iron spears. [3-47-44b, c]

PURPORT

This declaration that she is selfsame to Rama is on the analogy of raamaa the feminal name of Rama. aham naaraayanii naama saa sattaa vaiShNavii paraa - lakShmii tantra 3-1 - yahaa mayaa jagat vyaaptam svaruupeNa svabhaavataH | tayaa vaaptam idam vishvam niyantrii ca tathaa iishvarii || 'I am indeed Naaraayanee [i.e. Lakshmi] the supreme essence of Lord Vishnu----Lakshmi Tantra 3.1. 'In my essence and entity I pervade all this universe, and as I pervade all over I am the controller and presiding deity...'

VERSE 45

यद् अंतरम् सिंह शृगालयोः वने
यद् अंतरम् स्यन्दनिका समुद्रयोः
सुर अग्र्य सौवीरकयोः यद् अंतरम्
तद् अंतरम् दाशरथेः तव एव च

yad aṃtaram siṃha śṛgālayoḥ vane
yad aṃtaram syandanikā samudrayoḥ
sura agrya sauvīrakayoḥ yad aṃtaram
tad aṃtaram dāśaratheḥ tava eva ca

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Which odds are there between a lion and a fox in a given forest, which odds are there between a turbid-rivulet and an ocean, and which odds are there between a fine-wine and sour-gruel, likewise you are also at odds with the son of Dasharatha. [3-47-45]

PURPORT

The usage of the word syandanika is said to be the usage of a rare word by Valmiki, meaning kshudra nadi 'a turbid-rivulet...' as recorded by Pt. Satya Vrat, in Ramayana - A Linguistic Study.

VERSE 46

यद् अंतरम् कांचन सीस लोहयोः
यद् अंतरम् चन्दन वारि पंकयोः
यद् अंतरम् हस्ति बिडालयोः वने
तद् अंतरम् दशरथेः तव एव च

yad aṃtaram kāṃcana sīsa lohayoḥ
yad aṃtaram candana vāri paṃkayoḥ
yad aṃtaram hasti biḍālayoḥ vane
tad aṃtaram daśaratheḥ tava eva ca

SYNONYMS

kāncana sīsa lohayoḥ: among gold, lead, metals | yat antaram: which, imparity is there | candana vāri: sandalwood, water | pankayoḥ: sewage [waters] | vane hasti biḍālayoḥ: in forest, among elephant, wildcat | yat antaram = vhic, imparity: is there | tat antaram = that [suc,] imparity: is there | tava daśaratheḥ eva ca: among you, Dasharatha's son, like that, also. |

TRANSLATION

"Which imparity is there among the metals of gold and lead, which imparity is there among the waters of sandalwood and sewage, which imparity is there between an elephant and a wildcat of forests, such an imparity exists between you and the son of Dasharatha. [3-47-46]

VERSE 47

यद् अंतरम् वायस वैनतेययोः
यद् अंतरम् मद्गु मयूरयोः अपि
यद् अंतरम् हंस गृध्रयोः वने
तद् अंतरम् दाशरथेः तव एव च

yad aṃtaram vāyasa vainateyayoḥ
yad aṃtaram madgu mayūrayoḥ api
yad aṃtaram haṃsa gṛdhrayoḥ vane
tad aṃtaram dāśaratheḥ tava eva ca

SYNONYMS

vāyasa vainateyayoḥ: betwixt crow, eagle | yat antaram: which, dissimilarity is there | madgu mayūrayoḥ api: betwixt waterfowl, peacock, even | vane: in forest | hamsa gṛdhrayoḥ: betwixt swan, falcon | dāśaratheḥ tava eva ca: betwixt Dasharatha's son, yours, like that, only | tat antaram: that [such,] dissimilarity is there. |

TRANSLATION

"Which dissimilarity obtains betwixt a crow and an eagle, which dissimilarity obtains betwixt a waterfowl and a peacock, which dissimilarity obtains betwixt a swan and a falcon living in forest, such a dissimilarity obtains betwixt you and the son of Dasharatha. [3-47-47]

VERSE 48

तस्मिन् सहस्राक्ष सम प्रभावे
रामे स्थिते कार्मुक बाण पाणौ
हृता अपि ते अहम् न जराम् गमिष्ये
वज्रम् यथा मक्षिकया अवगीर्णम्

tasmin sahasrākṣa sama prabhāve
rāme sthite kārmuka bāṇa pāṇau
hṛtā api te aham na jarām gamiṣye
vajram yathā makṣikayā avagīrṇam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Even if you steal me away now, later when Indra similar Rama posits himself with his bow and arrows in hand on the battlefield, you cannot live on, and in the meanwhile you cannot digest me, as with a diamond swallowed along with a fly." Thus Seetha gave her vent to her disdainful feelings towards Ravana. [3-47-48]

PURPORT

Here, if a fly is accidentally swallowed along with pure ghee, it will be vomited out for the nausea caused by that fly in the stomach. But diamond rends the stomach. The word vajram is usually a diamond, and if a diamond is consumed, accidentally or wilfully, it will tear off the intestines to death. Hence taking the Vedic saying vajro va aajyam the word is generally translated as ghee.

VERSE 49

इति इव तत् वाक्यम् अदुष्ट भावा
सुदुष्टम् उक्त्वा रजनी चरम् तम्
गात्र प्रकंपात् व्यथिता बभूव
वात उद्धता सा कदली इव तन्वी

iti iva tat vākyam aduṣṭa bhāvā
suduṣṭam uktvā rajanī caram tam
gātra prakaṃpāt vyathitā babhūva
vāta uddhatā sā kadalī iva tanvī

SYNONYMS

a duṣṭa bhāvā: not, sullied, in intentions | tanvī: fragile bodied one | sā: she | su duṣṭam: highly, sullied one [in his intentions, or, very harsh words of Seetha] | tam rajanī caram: to him, night, walker | tat vākyam: that [these,] sentences | iti iva uktvā: thus, in this way, having said | gātra pra kampāt: 1] voice, 2] body, verily, from trembling | vāta uddhatā kadalī iva: by gust, up-heaved, banana plant, as with | vyathitā babhūva: tormented, she became. |

TRANSLATION

On speaking these sentences with high-strung words, with all her unsullied intentions to that highly sullied night-rambler Ravana, her fragile body trembled tormentedly as with a banana plant up-heaved by gust. [3-47-49]

PURPORT

She poured forth all of her feelings unbothered for consequences and when her haranguing is over, she felt certain uneasiness. This uneasiness is two fold. One is in accordance with humanly nature of a woman as she is staunch enough to not yield to any, and if anyone makes an untoward advance, she has a 'list' of suicide-programs, those that are narrated to Lakshmana in the previous chapter. Further, she is yet to know about Rama's welfare, which will be impossible if this demon carries her away now. On the other side, as a Divine Consort of Vishnu, her uneasiness is for her separation from Rama, but not from the fear of any molestation by Ravana, and as the expected hour has come, the expectancy for the prospective elimination of Ravana is making her to tremble, impetuously.

VERSE 50

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे सप्त चत्वारिन्शः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe sapta catvārinśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On closely marking Seetha to be tremulous, he that Ravana whose impetus is Death similar, clearly informed her of his name, caste, competency, and capability as his purpose is to cause scare. [3-47-50]