Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

सा तु तारा अधिप मुखी रावणेन निरीक्ष्य तम्
गृध्र राजम् विनिहतम् विललाप सुदुःखिता

sā tu tārā adhipa mukhī rāvaṇena nirīkṣya tam
gṛdhra rājam vinihatam vilalāpa suduḥkhitā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Seetha whose visage is like a full moon wept on gazing the king of eagles Jataayu whom Ravana nearly killed. [3-52-1]

PURPORT

There occurs another verse before this one in Eastern recension which says that Ravana has firstly seen Jataayu who is spinning on earth to breath his last: tam alpa jiivitam gR^idhram sphurantam raakSha adipa | dadarsha bhuumau patitam samipe raaghava aashramaat || thereby giving some time to Seetha to recollect what has happened.

VERSE 2

निमित्तम् लक्षणम् स्वप्नम् शकुनि स्वर दर्शनम्
अवश्यम् सुख दुःखेषु नराणाम् परिदृश्यते

nimittam lakṣaṇam svapnam śakuni svara darśanam
avaśyam sukha duḥkheṣu narāṇām paridṛśyate

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Humans definitely perceive either agony or ecstasy by its concomitant happenings, or by the characteristics of uncommon reflexes of their own body parts, or by the presages, or by conjecturable concomitants, or by cognising calls of birds. [3-52-2]

PURPORT

Vividly: Seetha's plaint is like this: 'Oh, Rama, we humans do perceive good or bad happenings by the presages, like concomitant happenings of some hindrances when a deed is attempted, like unforeseen tidings like sneezing, a minor accident or a misfire, or unable to catch a sight of one's own face in a mirror... or by the undue reflexes of bodily parts, like flutter of eyelids or shudder of shoulders or arms... or by the callings of birds and movements of animals... so, by now your left shoulder and left eye should have shuddered, or some crows might have cawed uglily, or some birds might have gone from your right to left, except garuDa, bharadwaja birds, and by these forebodings why do not you cognise that something is happening to me and thus why not come to my rescue?'

VERSE 3

न नूनम् राम जानासि महत् व्यसनम् आत्मनः
धावन्ति नूनम् काकुत्स्थ मत् अर्थम् मृग पक्षिणः

na nūnam rāma jānāsi mahat vyasanam ātmanaḥ
dhāvanti nūnam kākutstha mat artham mṛga pakṣiṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, for sure you are not able to know about big catastrophe called my kidnap is chancing on you, even though oh, Kakutstha, these animals and birds are running towards you surely for my sake, to tell about me. [3-52-3]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: 'Oh, Rama you may not be able to perceive the prognostications as you are in a fit of hunting that Golden Deer, but, for a while keep that hunting at bay and give an ear to these birds and animals that are rushing towards you to convey the news of my kidnap... and for god's sake do not kill these animals, presuming that they are pestering you...

VERSE 4

अयम् हि कृपया राम माम् त्रातुम् इह संगतः
शेते विनिहतो भूमौ मम अभाग्यात् विहंगमः

ayam hi kṛpayā rāma mām trātum iha saṃgataḥ
śete vinihato bhūmau mama abhāgyāt vihaṃgamaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, this sky flier Jataayu who mercifully came here to save me is verily mangled on his encountering Ravana, and he is sprawling on earth, indeed by my ill luck." Thus Seetha wailed. [3-52-4]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: 'My ill luck is so preponderant, in that it has demolished this Jataayu, who by himself is a pious and merited being who came to help the helpless one like me... but my ill luck pervaded over such an impeccable being also... otherwise Jataayu would have vanquished Ravana... thus, when an immeasurable ill luck is holding sway, it is for you, and you alone, oh, Rama, to come for my rescue...'

VERSE 5

त्राहि माम् अद्य काकुत्स्थ लक्ष्मण इति वरांगना
सु संत्रस्ता समाक्रंदत् शृण्वताम् तु यथा अन्तिके

trāhi mām adya kākutstha lakṣmaṇa iti varāṃganā
su saṃtrastā samākraṃdat śṛṇvatām tu yathā antike

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That best lady who is very highly panicked bawled noisily, "oh, Rama of Kakutstha... oh, Lakshmana... liberate me now..." as though the addressees are before her. [3-52-5]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: A subject's bawling in the audience of a king is different from that of a cry of a subject in a moor. Here Seetha is visualising those two Kakutstha-s, Rama, and Lakshmana, right in her front, in a halo, and suppliantly bawling, as though asking them to come out that halo to help her out. Her bawling is not in a clamorous tone but it is a roshantiim madhura svaraam 'crying with mellowly voice...' as detailed at verse 42 below, for there should be difference between the braying of an ass and parroting of a parrot.

VERSE 6

ताम् क्लिष्ट माल्य आभरणाम् विलपन्तीम् अनाथवत्
अभ्यधावत वैदेहीम् रावणो राक्षस अधिपः

tām kliṣṭa mālya ābharaṇām vilapantīm anāthavat
abhyadhāvata vaidehīm rāvaṇo rākṣasa adhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That sovereign of demons, Ravana, rushed towards Vaidehi whose garlands and jewellery are muddled up and who is bawling like an orphanized one. [3-52-6]

VERSE 7

ताम् लताम् इव वेष्टन्तीम् आलिंगन्तीम् महाद्रुमान्
मुंच मुंच इति बहुशः प्रवदन् राक्षस अधिपः

tām latām iva veṣṭantīm āliṃgantīm mahādrumān
muṃca muṃca iti bahuśaḥ pravadan rākṣasa adhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 8| antaka sannibhaḥ: Death, one similar in shine | rākṣasa adhipaḥ: demons', lord | latām iva mahādrumān veṣṭantīm ālingantīm: climber plant, like, to sturdy tree, who is muffling, and clinging | vane rāmeṇa rahitām: in timberland, by Rama, one who is devoid of | rāma rāma iti: Rama, Rama, thus | krośantīm: who is bewailing | tām: to her | munca munca iti: leave off, leave off [the trees,] [saying] thus | bahuśaḥ pra vadan: repeatedly, harshly, on saying [on taunting] | jīvita antāya: for [his] life, end of [self-ruinously] | keśeṣu jagrāha: at head-hair [bun of hair,] clutched her. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana, the lord of demons, has repeatedly and harshly taunted Seetha saying, 'leave it off, leave it off...' when Seetha devoid of Rama in that timberland is clinging and muffling a sturdy tree like a climber plant, and bawling, 'Rama, Rama,' and that demon whose shine is similar to the Death has clutched her hair loosened from her bun, as death loomed large on him. [3-52-7, 8]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: Here the word vane 'in timberland...' is actually 'loneliness...' plus, 'minus Rama...' and her crying is araNya rodana 'a cry in wilderness...' And from the viewpoint of Ravana, she is uttering a wild cry indicating that 'the giant tree called Ravana is going to fall...' as with the woodcutters' yelling 'timber... timber...' as a warning cry that a tree is about to fall, when the word 'timber' is used esp. as intransitive. This catching a chaste woman by her hair is the worst possible crime and sin as explained at 3-50-13 of this chapter. And now all the gods feel satisfied for the commencement of the process for elimination of vice on earth, called Ravana, though pitying Seetha. Here, the 'capturing Seetha by her shadow' as explained by Maheshvara Tiirtha, is an untouched subject. If she can be captured by shadow while she is in her senses and agitating and clinging a sturdy tree, as with Simhika-Hanuma in Sundara Kanda, Ravana should not have given her this much time to bemoan, but should have captured by her shadow without leaving her to pay a visit to dying Jataayu. Hence, this capture is viewed on a human plane, rather than a conjuror's trick.

VERSE 9

प्रधर्षितायाम् वैदेह्याम् बभूव स चरा अचरम्
जगत् सर्वम् अमर्यादम् तमसा अन्धेन संवृतम्

pradharṣitāyām vaidehyām babhūva sa carā acaram
jagat sarvam amaryādam tamasā andhena saṃvṛtam

SYNONYMS

, 10a| vaidehyām: of Vaidehi | pradharṣitāyām: while being insulted | sa carā a caram: together with, mobile, not mobile [sessile] | sarvam jagat: entire, world | a maryādam: not, scrupulous [chaotic] | andhena tamasā samvṛtam babhūva: by blinding, blackness, blanketing, it became [bechanced] | tatra mārutaḥ na vāti: there, wind, not, wafts | divākaraḥ niṣ prabhaḥ abhūt: day maker [Sun,] devoid of, shine, became. |

TRANSLATION

While Vaidehi is insulted thus, entire world together with its mobile or sessile beings became chaotic, and there chanced a blanketing of a blinding blackness, and waft-less is the Wind and shine-less is the Sun. [3-52-9]

PURPORT

This 'blackness' is a poetic gloominess of the mood, rather than a material or mythical, or superimposing darkness. Sun is gloomy, wind is gloomy, and the entire nature is in oblivion of sadness.

VERSE 11

दृष्ट्वा सीताम् परा मृष्टाम् देवो दिव्येन चक्षुषा

dṛṣṭvā sītām parā mṛṣṭām devo divyena cakṣuṣā

SYNONYMS

b, 11| śrīmān devaḥ pitāmahaḥ: illustrious, god, Grandparent [Brahma] | sītām parā mṛṣṭām: of Seetha, by other [person, inappropriate one,] touched [appropriated] | divyena cakṣuṣā dṛṣṭvā: by divine [clairvoyant,] eyes, on seeing | kāryam kṛtam iti: deed, is done, thus | vyājahāra: said [declared] | prahṛṣṭā vyathitāḥ ca āsan: delighted, despondent, also, became | sarve te parama ṛṣayaḥ: all, those, supreme, sages [in Brahma's abode.] |

TRANSLATION

On seeing Seetha's appropriation by an inappropriate being with His clairvoyant eyes, the illustrious Grandparent of Universe Brahma declared, "the deed is done..." but all of the supreme sages in Brahma's abode on seeing Seetha in such a condition became despondent, and yet delighted in foreseeing results. [3-52-10b, 11a]

PURPORT

Usually this expression parama R^iSaya 'quintessential sages...' is linked with the words danDakaraNya in next verse and said that 'the sages dwelling in Dandaka forest are delighted and yet, despondent...' If some elderly sages were available in the vicinity, they would have waited until the arrival of Rama and would have informed Rama of Seetha's abduction, though they may not be able to combat Ravana or hurl a curse at Ravana. But Ravana is no fool to abduct Seetha while a bystander stands over looking on the spectacle. Hence, these sages said here are those that are available in the academy of Brahma. And the danDaraNya vaasinaH in the next foot are the voiceless and incommunicable beings in Dandaka forest.

VERSE 12

दृष्ट्वा सीताम् परा मृष्टाम् दण्डकारण्य वासिनः
रावणस्य विनाशम् च प्राप्तम् बुद्ध्वा यदृच्छया

dṛṣṭvā sītām parā mṛṣṭām daṇḍakāraṇya vāsinaḥ
rāvaṇasya vināśam ca prāptam buddhvā yadṛcchayā

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā sītām parā mṛṣṭām: on seeing, Seetha, by other [person, inappropriate one,] touched [appropriated] | daṇḍaka araṇya vāsinaḥ: in Dandaka, forest, dwellers | rāvaṇasya vi nāśam ca: Ravana's, utter, destruction [annihilation,] also | prāptam: bechanced | buddhvā yadṛcchayā: cognised, coincidentally [as a godsend.] |

TRANSLATION

On seeing Seetha's appropriation by an impropriate being, the dwellers in Dandaka forest cognised that Ravana's annihilation has chanced coincidentally. [3-52-12]

PURPORT

Again a poetic 'thinking' that even speechless beings can presage and prognosticate. Though they may not tell us directly, their body language and odd behaviour will certainly tell. The behaviour of animals and birds before an earthquake or a storm or any natural devastation is not an unknown phenomena. After all, a frog crocks before a rain.

VERSE 13

स तु ताम् राम राम इति रुदन्तीम् लक्ष्मण इति च
जगाम आदाय च आकाशम् रावणो राक्षसेश्वर

sa tu tām rāma rāma iti rudantīm lakṣmaṇa iti ca
jagāma ādāya ca ākāśam rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvara

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Ravana, the lord of demons, on wresting Seetha who is bawling, "Rama... Rama..." also thus as, "Lakshmana..." took flight skyward. [3-52-13]

VERSE 14

तप्त आभरण वर्ण अन्गी पीत कौशेय वासनी
रराज राज पुत्री तु विद्युत् सौदामनी यथा

tapta ābharaṇa varṇa angī pīta kauśeya vāsanī
rarāja rāja putrī tu vidyut saudāmanī yathā

SYNONYMS

tapta ābharaṇa varṇa [juṣṭa] angī: molten [refined,] jewellery, coloured [muffled up,] bodied | pīta kauśeya vāsanī: ocherish, in silks, dressed | rāja putrī tu: king's, daughter [princess,] on her part | vidyut saudāmanī [sau dāman] yathā: lightning flashes, in cloud, as with | rarāja: scintillated. |

TRANSLATION

That princess Seetha scintillated like the oblique flashes of lightning in a cloud, owing to her golden coloured body which is muffled up with jewellery of pure gold, and added with a golden coloured ocherish silky dress, while traversing in the sky. [3-52-14]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: A lightening in a cloud does not last for a long period. So also, for being with this cloudlike Ravana, these flashes of lightning, called Seetha, will not last long, albeit those flashes alone will electrocute that cloud, called Ravana.

VERSE 15

उद्धूतेन च वस्त्रेण तस्याः पीतेन रावणः
अधिकम् परिबभ्राज गिरिः दीप इव अग्निना

uddhūtena ca vastreṇa tasyāḥ pītena rāvaṇaḥ
adhikam paribabhrāja giriḥ dīpa iva agninā

SYNONYMS

tasyāḥ: of her | uddhūtena pītena ca vastreṇa: by upheaved, yellowish [ochreish silken sari, rather, blazing hue of silk sari,] also, by cloth [upper fringe of sari] | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | agninā dīpa giriḥ iva: by fire, blazing, mountain, like | adhikam pari babhrāja = mucly, overly, śone forth: ablaze. |

TRANSLATION

When her ochreish silk sari's upper fringe is upheaved by air onto to Ravana, Ravana looked blazing like a mountain set ablaze, muchly and overly. [3-52-15]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: If some parts of a mountain are afire it is no problem since it is usual. But when the mountain itself is overly and muchly aflame, it is impracticable for any to prevent it or help it out. The upper cloth of Seetha's sari is goldenly silky and thus it will have a tinge of reddish brown hue, like the outer edge of the tongue of fire. That fringe pallu is upheaved, [intr.] rise and fall rhythmically or spasmodically, by air and it is flagging off the annihilation of Ravana, by its flag-like motions on his face. Thus, Ravana who is standing like a mountain as of now is destined soon to become a mountain with a self-ruinous fire, overly and muchly.

VERSE 16

तस्याः परम कल्याण्याः ताम्राणि सुरभीणि च
पद्म पत्राणि वैदेह्या अभ्यकीर्यन्त रावणम् यद्वा

च्युतानि पद्म पत्राणि रावणम् समावाकिरन्

tasyāḥ parama kalyāṇyāḥ tāmrāṇi surabhīṇi ca
padma patrāṇi vaidehyā abhyakīryanta rāvaṇam - yadvā
-
- cyutāni padma patrāṇi rāvaṇam samāvākiran -

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Reddish and scented lotus-petals adorning that highly auspicious Seetha have slithered, but again upheaved by air they are bestrewn on Ravana. [3-52-16]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: The reddish lotus petals which hitherto are on her body, as garlands and on her braid as a chaplet, are crumpled and loosened in the tussle and thus each petal is falling each time. Instead of falling onto earth, they are upheaved and sprinkled on Ravana's body by the fast wind under the feet of Ravana, somewhat like a floral welcome. This is in one way a good omen to Ravana to get a release from his accursed state, while on the other, it suggests that his opulence is soon destined to wither away like a withered petal of lotus. The last foot is taken, which obtains in other mms, leaving off the middle foot, that also says the same.

VERSE 17

तस्याः कौशेयम् उद्धूतम् आकाशे कनक प्रभम्
बभौ च आदित्य रागेण ताम्रम् अभ्रम् इव आतपे

tasyāḥ kauśeyam uddhūtam ākāśe kanaka prabham
babhau ca āditya rāgeṇa tāmram abhram iva ātape

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Upper fringe of Seetha's silk sari with golden glitter is upheaved in the sky, and with the reddish hue of sun in red heat of midday it beamed forth like a reddish cloud. [3-52-17]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: A reddish cloud is acceptable either in morning or in evening but not in midday since it is a bad omen.

VERSE 18

तस्याः तत् विमलम् सु नसम् वक्त्रम् आकाशे रावण अंक गम्
न रराज विना रामम् विनालम् इव
पंकजम्

tasyāḥ tat vimalam - su nasam - vaktram ākāśe rāvaṇa aṃka gam
na rarāja vinā rāmam vinālam iva
paṃkajam

SYNONYMS

ākāśe: in sky | rāvaṇa anka gam: Ravana's, in flank, one who has gone in | tasyāḥ tat vimalam vaktram: of her, that, immaculate, visage | rāmam vinā = ṟama, vithout: devoid of, not in vicinage | vi nālam panka jam iva: without, stalk, as with, mud, born [like lotus minus stalk] | na rarāja: not, brightened. |

TRANSLATION

As with a stalk-less lotus the immaculate visage of Seetha is unbright in the sky when she is on the flank of Ravana as Rama is not in vicinage. [3-52-18]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: A lotus without a stalk looses its glamour as well as its infrastructure. As sun brightens the face of moon, Rama brightens Seetha's visage. As moon depends on sun, Seetha depends on Rama, and devoid of him, she is lost to the world for a glimpse.

VERSE 19

बभूव जलदम् नीलम् भित्त्वा चन्द्र इव उदितः
सु ललाटम् सु केश अंतम् पद्म गर्भ आभम् अव्रणम्

babhūva jaladam nīlam bhittvā candra iva uditaḥ
su lalāṭam su keśa aṃtam padma garbha ābham avraṇam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Her lotus pistil like un-pimply face is adorned with a pretty forehead on which prettyish curls are fluttering, and with teeth that are spick and span and sparkling, but tears dabbed on that face to sideways when she wept, yet it is pleasant like moon for a sight with shapely nose, pretty eyes, roseate lips, and shining with golden hue in sky. Nevertheless, when she has gone in the flank of Ravana on the sky such an immaculate face of Seetha turned like a palish moon that has just risen bursting a bluish cloud. [3-52-19, 20, 21]

VERSE 22

राक्षसेन्द्र समाधूतम् तस्याः तत् वदनम् शुभम्
शुशुभे न विना रामम् दिवा चन्द्र इव उदितः

rākṣasendra samādhūtam tasyāḥ tat vadanam śubham
śuśubhe na vinā rāmam divā candra iva uditaḥ

SYNONYMS

rākṣasendra: by demon's lord | sam ādhūtam = highly, disturbed: disconcerted | śubham tat [hāṭaka prabha] vadanam: auspicious, that, [golden, in hue,] face | rāmam vinā: Rama, without | divā uditaḥ candra iva: in daytime, arisen, moon, like | na śuśubhe: not, brightened. |

TRANSLATION

Highly disconcerted by the king of demons that auspicious face of Seetha is unbright like the moon arisen in daytime with somewhat golden hue, owing to the absence of Rama. [3-52-22]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: One moon is enough. If there were to be two moons, it is indicative of some havoc. Now, a silvern moon is there and this lady with her golden-moon face may supersede that silvern moon and thus may cause havocs. Moon coming out when sun is still on sky will be somewhat golden in hue. She is un-brightened because Rama is not at her side as of now, but like a diamond that is coexistent with coal, Seetha is now with this coal-like Ravana.

VERSE 23

सा हेम वर्णा नील अंगम् मैथिली राक्षस अधिपम्
शुशुभे कांचनी कांची नीलम् मणिम् गजम् इव
आश्रिता

sā hema varṇā nīla aṃgam maithilī rākṣasa adhipam
śuśubhe kāṃcanī kāṃcī nīlam maṇim - gajam - iva
āśritā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

She that golden coloured Maithili who is moored by the blackish-bodied sovereign of demons shone forth like a sapphirine gemstone studded in a golden cincture. She that golden coloured Maithili who is moored by the blackish-bodied sovereign of demons shone forth like a golden cincture girded to an elephant. [3-52-23]

PURPORT

The gemstone sapphire, more precisely indra niila maNi , shines brilliantly when studded in silver ornaments, rather than in golden ones. Gold is no match to that blue stone. So also, Seetha's shine is dullish. This is vyatireka ukti alankaara 'a litotes...' The mms of Govindaraja says shushubhe kaa.ncanii kaa.ncii niilam maNim iva aashritaa 'shone like a sapphire with gold...' while Maheshvara Tiirtha puts it as gajam iva aashritaa 'a golden cincture like elephant's girdle, where Ravana is the elephant and golden cincture is Seetha...' Though this text of Tiirtha is found more emphatic, but the blemish of reiteration occurs to the epic, because another verse, namely 30 below, contains similar 'elephant-golden-cincture' expression gajam kakshyaa iva kaa.ncanii Then, in the text of Maheshvara Tiirtha this verse 30 is pushed to a farther place that is at 30. 'Then unblemished it is, insofar as proximate reiteration is concerned...' it is said so.

VERSE 24

सा पद्म पीता हेम आभा रावणम् जनक आत्मजा
विद्युत् घनम् इव आविश्य शुशुभे तप्त भूषणा

sā padma pītā hema ābhā rāvaṇam janaka ātmajā
vidyut ghanam iva āviśya śuśubhe tapta bhūṣaṇā

SYNONYMS

padma pītā [gaurī]: lotus, yellowish | hema ābhā: golden, in tinge | tapta bhūṣaṇā: with molten [purified golden,] ornaments | sā janaka ātmajā: she that, Janaka's, daughter Seetha | rāvaṇam [ghanam iva] āviśya = ṟavana, [stonehearted one, as vith,] on holding: on possessing | vidyut [elliptic| āviśya] ghanam iva: lightning, [possessed in,] dark-cloud, like | śuśubhe: flashed. |

TRANSLATION

Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, with a complexion that is goldenly yellowish in the tinge of a lotus, moreover with her ornaments of purified gold, flashed like a lightning possessed in a dark-cloud, when that stonehearted Ravana possessed her. [3-52-24]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: A lightning seeks no mercy. Though Seetha is overlain on the shoulder of that ghana saara hR^idaya 'stonehearted...' Ravana, she does not seek for his mercy to leave her off, as lightning overlain on a cloud does not seek the mercy of a ghanaa ghanaH 'a darkly massive cloud...' The nearness or the proximity of a lightning and cloud is short-lived, so is this proximity of Seetha with Ravana. And the lightning will brighten a darkish cloud, but the darkish cloud cannot darken that silvery lightning.

VERSE 25

तस्या भूषण घोषेण वैदेह्या राक्षस अधिपः
बभूव विमलो नीलः सघोष इव तोयदः

tasyā bhūṣaṇa ghoṣeṇa vaidehyā rākṣasa adhipaḥ
babhūva vimalo nīlaḥ saghoṣa iva toyadaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

With the rustles of Vaidehi's jewellery that lord of demons shone forth like a shipshape blue-black cloud with rumbles and undulating lightning. [3-52-25]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: A massive darkish cloud may rumble, roar or blare, but its bursting will be scanty and short. So also, this Ravana may appear like a thunderous cloud as of now, but it dissipates soon.

VERSE 26

उत्तम अंग च्युता तस्याः पुष्प वृष्टिः समन्ततः
सीताया ह्रियमाणायाः पपात धरणी तले

uttama aṃga cyutā tasyāḥ puṣpa vṛṣṭiḥ samantataḥ
sītāyā hriyamāṇāyāḥ papāta dharaṇī tale

SYNONYMS

hriyamāṇāyāḥ: while being abducted | tasyāḥ sītāyāḥ: of her, Seetha's | uttama anga cyutā: best, of body part i.e., head, or, from her best, body,] fallen | puṣpa vṛṣṭiḥ: flowers, shower of | samantataḥ dharaṇī tale papāta: all-over, on earth's, surface, fallen. |

TRANSLATION

Flowers gracing her best body on her head, in garlands on chest, and on armlets have fallen all-over the surface of earth like showers of flowers while she is being abducted. [3-52-26]

VERSE 27

सा तु रावण वेगेन पुष्प वृष्टिः समन्ततः
समाधूता दशग्रीवम् पुनः एव अभ्यवर्तत

sā tu rāvaṇa vegena puṣpa vṛṣṭiḥ samantataḥ
samādhūtā daśagrīvam punaḥ eva abhyavartata

SYNONYMS

samantataḥ [cyutā] tu: all-over, [fallen,] though | sā puṣpa vṛṣṭiḥ: that, flower, shower | rāvaṇa vegena: by Ravana's, speed | samādhūtā: sam aa dhuutaa = well, up, heaved [windswept] | punaḥ daśagrīvam eva: again, to Decahedral Ravana, alone | [sā puṣpa vṛṣṭiḥ ] abhi ā vartata: towards, re, coursed. |

TRANSLATION

Though that flower-shower has fallen all-over, it is windswept by the speed of Ravana, and fell again on that Decahedral demon. [3-52-27]

PURPORT

All the gods have caused the flower-shower, for their mission is going to fructify by this act of siitaa apaharaNa 'Abduction of Seetha...' saying, 'Oh Goddess Lakshmi, you have graced all of us and the earth to allow yourself for abduction... thus triggered off is our mission of elimination of vice, in the shape of Ravana, on earth...' So said in kaTaka vyaakhya kaTaka's commentary. But Maheshvara Tiirtha says that 'when gods have no guts to affront Ravana or come into the sight of Ravana, wherefrom they cause a flower-shower? So, it is not gods that showered these flowers, but they are the flowers on her body fallen down by the gust caused by the speed of Ravana, but again windswept, up-heaved and fallen on the body of Ravana...' In either the case, Goddess Lakshmi has blessed Ravana with the flowers fallen from her physique onto the head of Ravana, as with the flowers slid from an idol in a temple, becoming worthy to wear on heads of devotees.

VERSE 25

अभ्यवर्तत पुष्पाणाम् धारा वैश्रवण अनुजम्
नक्षत्र माला विमला मेरुम् नगम् इव उन्नतम्

abhyavartata puṣpāṇām dhārā vaiśravaṇa anujam
nakṣatra mālā vimalā merum nagam iva unnatam

SYNONYMS

puṣpāṇām dhārā: of flowers, showers | vimalā nakṣatra mālā: pristine, stars, garland | unnatam merum nagam iva [ abhi ā vartitam]: loftiest, Mt, Meru, mountain, like [circles round] | vaiśravaṇa anujam: Vaishravana, or Kubera's, brother | abhyavartata: circled. |

TRANSLATION

Like the garland of pristine stars that circles round the loftiest Mt. Meru, that flower-shower circled Ravana, the brother of Kubera. [3-52-28]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: This whirling and twirling of flowers around Ravana is not a one time affair. It is continued by his dashing speed. When the circling flowers are lowered by gravity, they are again up-heaved by Ravana's speed and thus it is recurrent.

VERSE 26

चरणात् नूपुरम् भ्रष्टम् वैदेह्या रत्न भूषितम्
विद्युत् मण्डल संकाशम् पपात धरणी तले

caraṇāt nūpuram bhraṣṭam vaidehyā ratna bhūṣitam
vidyut maṇḍala saṃkāśam papāta dharaṇī tale

SYNONYMS

vaidehyā caraṇāt bhraṣṭam: of Vaidehi, from foot, slid | ratna bhūṣitam nūpuram: gems, adorned with, anklet | vidyut maṇḍala sankāśam: electric, annulus, similar to [sparky] sparkles | dharaṇī tale papāta: on earth's, plane of, fell down. |

TRANSLATION

Slid from the left foot of Vaidehi her anklet adorned with gems fell down onto the plane of earth like an electric annulus with its sparky sparkles. [3-52-29]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: This anklet has not suddenly fallen. It is whirling for sometime against the gust raised by Ravana's rush. When it is circuitously whirling, that ring's sparkles are like the sparks of electricity in a circular band. And this ringlet is a symbolic of an electric ring-like guard for the entire earth against further atrocities on earth, which is why it exhibited its electric-sparks in sky for a while and descended onto earth.

VERSE 27

ओर्

SYNONYMS

taru pravāla raktā: tree's, leaflet, reddish | sā vaidehī: she, that Vaidehi | nīla angam rākṣasa īśvaram: blackish, bodied, demons', lord | kāncanī kakśyā gajam iva: golden, with girdle [in elephant-stable,] elephant, like | prā śobhayata: well and truly, made lambent. |

TRANSLATION

She that Vaidehi who is so delicate like reddish leaflets of trees made that blackish bodied lord of demons, Ravana, well and truly lambent, herself becoming a golden girdle girded around the elephant like Ravana. She that Vaidehi who is so delicate like reddish leaflets of trees made that blackish bodied lord of demons, Ravana, well and truly lambent, as with an elephant, with a golden girdle, stabled in an elephant-stable by a mahout, the elephant-trainer. [3-52-30]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: The first gist is the apparent and lexical in its meaning and the second one is like this: An elephant that runs amock and berserk will be controlled and brought back to normalcy by a mahout, an elephant-trainer. He will use all necessary items like ropes, chains, hurdles etc., to stop its haphazard running, and among them is a girdle rope with which he mounts that elephant with his goad to control it. Here Seetha is that golden girdle to this elephantine Ravana, with the help that rope Rama, the mahout, can control this elephant in rut, namely Ravana, and can place that pachyderm in its elephant-stable. Govindaraja.

VERSE 31

ताम् महा उल्काम् इव आकाशे दीप्यमानाम् स्व तेजसा
जहार आकाशम् आविश्य सीताम् वैश्रवण अनुजः

tām mahā ulkām iva ākāśe dīpyamānām sva tejasā
jahāra ākāśam āviśya sītām vaiśravaṇa anujaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Ravana, the brother of Kubera, on invading the sky abducted that radiant Seetha who is radiating the sky by her own radiancy like a massive meteor. [3-52-31]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: The sighting of a meteor in itself is a bad omen mahaa utpaata suucitam 'augural of a great havoc...' and this Ravana is personally handling such a causer of a great havoc. A meteor, though visible as a streak of light falling in yonder sky, becomes incandescent as a result of friction with the earth's atmosphere. As such, it is tantamount to a massive fireball. Ravana is carrying this fireball to set his home afire. Perhaps Ravana might have thought in similar way and thus kept Seetha in Ashoka gardens, instead of placing her in his golden palace, so that his golden palace will not be burnt with this torch, called Seetha. But the same torch burns that golden palace down to ashes, though not directly but indirectly through Hanuma, in Sundara Kanda, as a coincidence.

VERSE 32

तस्याः तानि अग्नि वर्णानि भूषणानि मही तले
स घोषाणि अवकीर्यन्त क्षीणाः तारा इव अंबरात्

tasyāḥ tāni agni varṇāni bhūṣaṇāni mahī tale
sa ghoṣāṇi avakīryanta kṣīṇāḥ tārā iva aṃbarāt

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Some of her ornaments which are lustrously flamy, for they are sparkling like the sparkles of fireworks, are strewn about on the plane of earth with much clatter like the stars pelted down from the sky. [3-52-32]

VERSE 33

तस्याः स्तन अन्तरात् भ्रष्टो हारः तारा अधिप द्युतिः
वैदेह्या निपतन् भाति गंगा इव गगनात्
च्युता

tasyāḥ stana antarāt bhraṣṭo hāraḥ tārā adhipa dyutiḥ
vaidehyā nipatan bhāti gaṃgā iva gaganāt
cyutā

SYNONYMS

tasyāḥ vaidehyā: of her, of Vaidehi | stana antarāt: breasts, medial | bhraṣṭaḥ: glissaded | tārā adhipa dyutiḥ: stars, lord in sheen [moonshine] | hāraḥ: necklace [usu. pearly multi-stringed pendant a rivi�re ] | nipatan: while falling [while glissading] | gaganāt cyutā gangā iva bhāti: from skies, in glissade, River Ganga, like, sheeny. |

TRANSLATION

A multi-string pearl pendant, a rivi�re, that vies with the moonshine has glissaded from the medial of her breasts, and while glissading from sky it is sheeny like River Ganga while she glissaded from skies. [3-52-33]

PURPORT

bhaava/import: The simile upama of Seetha's pearly strings of a pendant to River Ganga may be observed and the portrayal of ganga avataraNa 'Ganga's descent to earth...' may be referred in Bala Kanda. The pearls of the pendant are shining like Ganga's glistening froth and foam, the strings are her streams, and the string's wavy movement is Ganga's beautiful flexuous and curvy drift, moreover the stings are falling off medially from two mountains, called Seetha's breasts, as Ganga also rose and fell from mountainous heights.

VERSE 34

उत्पात वात अभिहता नाना द्विज गण आयुताः
मा भैः इति विधूत अग्रा व्याजह्रुः इव पादपाः

utpāta vāta abhihatā nānā dvija gaṇa āyutāḥ
mā bhaiḥ iti vidhūta agrā vyājahruḥ iva pādapāḥ

SYNONYMS

vāta abhi hatā = by vind, vell, struck: stirred up by the gust caused by Ravana's flight | nānā dvija gaṇa āyutāḥ = diverse, bird, folks, consisting of: perching on | pādapāḥ: trees | vi dhūta agrā: verily, blown, with tops | mā bhaiḥ [mā bhaiḥ] iti: do not, fear, [fear not,] thus | vyājahruḥ iva: saying [consoling Seetha,] as though | ut pāta = up, heaved: swung. |

TRANSLATION

The trees on which diverse birds are perching have been stirred up with the wind blown and up-heaved by the gust of Ravana's flight, while the swaying motion of those treetops is as though waving hands to console Seetha saying, "fear not... fear not..." [3-52-34]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: When the treetops, rather whole of a tree is swaying, will not the birds abiding on it chirp and chitter? Yes! They will. Thus, the birds are twittering and trees are swaying their tops for a bon voyage. The chirrups of the birds are abhaya vaakyaaH the 'expression of good wishes to a departing traveller...' and the swaying motion of treetops are abhaya hasta abhinaya are the 'gesturing with raised and swaying hands wishing good to a departing traveller... etc. minus voicing, as with 'ta-ta, cheerio, best of luck...'. The word is 'tree' which comes out of earth and stands on earth, thus an earth-born one. Seetha is also an earth-born one and kindred of trees, i.e., nature. Nature itself is assuring Seetha to not to fear.

VERSE 35

नलिन्यो ध्वस्त कमलाः त्रस्त मीन जले चराः
सखीम् इव गत उत्साहाम् शोचन्ति इव स्म मैथिलीम्

nalinyo dhvasta kamalāḥ trasta mīna jale carāḥ
sakhīm iva gata utsāhām śocanti iva sma maithilīm

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

With wilted lotuses and scared fishes and other beings moving in water the lotus lakes are unenthusiastically sorrowing for Maithili as though Seetha is their girlfriend. The lakes with lotuses as their faces, and fishes as their eyes, and with the other facial adornments like the swimming, sweeping and sailing water-moving beings like tortoises, waterfowls and the like are unenthused, for a similar girlfriend of theirs, the lotus-faced, fish-eyed, lotus-modelled Seetha is beleaguered, and thus they are sorrowing for such a selfsame Maithili. [3-52-35]

VERSE 36

समंतात् अभिसंपत्य सिंह व्याघ्र मृग द्विजाः
अन्वधावन् तदा रोषात् सीताम् छाया अनुगामिनः

samaṃtāt abhisaṃpatya siṃha vyāghra mṛga dvijāḥ
anvadhāvan tadā roṣāt sītām chāyā anugāminaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

All lions, tigers, animals and birds have then gathered in herds from all-over and ran rancorously and pursuantly shadowing the shadow of Seetha. [3-52-36]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: Even the cruellest animals will be compassionate, if only humans are compassionate to them. Neither Seetha scared any animal nor any animal scared Seetha. This may be a useful verse for Animal Rights Activists.

VERSE 37

जल प्रपात अस्र मुखाः शृन्गैः उच्छ्रित बाहवः
सीतायाम् ह्रियमाणायाम् विक्रोशन्ति इव पर्वताः

jala prapāta asra mukhāḥ śṛngaiḥ ucchrita bāhavaḥ
sītāyām hriyamāṇāyām vikrośanti iva parvatāḥ

SYNONYMS

sītāyām hriya māṇāyām: at Seetha, who is being abducted | parvatāḥ: mountains | jala prapāta: water, falls | asra mukhāḥ: as [shedding] tears, with [such] faces | śṛngaiḥ ucchrita bāhavaḥ: by peaks, upraised, arms | vikrośanti iva: bewailed, as though [appeared to be.] |

TRANSLATION

The mountains appeared bewailing with their waterfalls as shedding tears and with their peaks as upraised arms, while Seetha is thus being abducted. [3-52-37]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo:A mountain cannot fly up to confront Ravana like an eagle, nor it can express its anguish like a swaying tree or a chirping bird, nor it cannot doggedly run after like lions and other animals, thus it is a 'cannot but situation' for any mountain to sit back and weep, as it is sessile. The eyes do not shed tears only in one direction. So also, the waterfalls are shed in many directions at the face-level of mountains, but not from their peaks. Then how to express their anguish bodily, to her who is up above the sky or pray the Almighty to rescue her? Hence, their raised mountaintops are their upraised arms, expressing all of their anguish, more so, with the booming weepy noise of the air coming out their caves, which in normal situations will be like the booming voicing of Sama Veda.

VERSE 38

ह्रियमाणाम् तु वैदेहीम् दृष्ट्वा दीनो दिवाकरः
प्रविध्वस्त प्रभः श्रीमान् आसीत् पाण्डुर मण्डलः

hriyamāṇām tu vaidehīm dṛṣṭvā dīno divākaraḥ
pravidhvasta prabhaḥ śrīmān āsīt pāṇḍura maṇḍalaḥ

SYNONYMS

hriyamāṇām vaidehīm dṛṣṭvā: being abducted, at Vaidehi, on seeing | śrīmān divākaraḥ dīnaḥ: magnificent, day maker [Sun,] is saddened | pra vi dhvasta prabhaḥ: very, lowly, weakened, with sunshine | pāṇḍura maṇḍalaḥ āsīt: whitened [palely,] sun-sphere [rather, sun-disc,] became. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing Vaidehi who is being abducted thus, magnificent Sun in firmament is saddened, and lowly weakened is his sunshine, palely whitened is his sun-disc, and faintly deadened is his solar constant. [3-52-38]

VERSE 39

न अस्ति धर्मः कुतः सत्यम् न आर्जवम् न अनृशंसता
यत्र रामस्य वैदेहीम् भार्याम् हरति रावणः

na asti dharmaḥ kutaḥ satyam na ārjavam na anṛśaṃsatā
yatra rāmasya vaidehīm bhāryām harati rāvaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 40a| yatra: where [when] | rāmasya bhāryām vaidehīm: Rama's, wife, Vaidehi is | rāvaṇaḥ harati: Ravana, is abducting | dharmaḥ na asti: probity, not, is there | satyam kutaḥ: fundamental truth [conscience,] whereby | ārjavam na: candour, no [place for, unfounded] | a nṛ śamsatā na: un-mercifulness [compassion,] no [place for, unfounded,] | iti sarvāṇi bhūtāni gaṇaśaḥ: thus, all of the, being, in throngs | paryadevayan: overly regretted. |

TRANSLATION

"When Ravana is abducting none other than the wife of Rama, then there is no probity. At such a juncture, how conscience can prevail? Unfounded are candour and compassion," thus the throngs of all beings overly regretted. [3-52-39, 40a]

VERSE 40

वित्रस्तका दीन मुखा रुरुदुः मृग पोतकाः

vitrastakā dīna mukhā ruruduḥ mṛga potakāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Verily frightened are the fawns of deer, and their saddened faces are with tear shedding eyes with flustered looks, and they looked up and up at Seetha in sky and wept. [3-52-40b, 41a]

PURPORT

dhvani/innuendo: The fawns are frightened because they have very broad and comely eyes like Seetha and someday some seducer like Ravana may also lead them astray, as collapsed is the equilibrium of conscience, candour or compassion. Hence, they are peeking out skyward repeatedly while Seetha is also looking down for Rama and Lakshmana, where the commonality is in the fawn-eyes filled with tears, both to the fawns and Seetha.

VERSE 41

सुप्रवेपित गात्राः च बभूवुः वन देवताः

supravepita gātrāḥ ca babhūvuḥ vana devatāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On seeing Seetha who is undergoing anguish in that way the sylvan deities physically shuddered in a worst way. [3-52-41b, 42a]

VERSE 42

ताम् तु लक्ष्मण राम इति क्रोशन्तीम् मधुर स्वराम्

tām tu lakṣmaṇa rāma iti krośantīm madhura svarām

SYNONYMS

b, 43| lakṣmaṇa rāma iti: Lakshmana, Rama, thus | madhura svarām krośantīm: with mellowly, voice, one who is crying | bahuśaḥ dharaṇī talam avekṣamāṇām: oftentimes, at earth's, plane, who is looking searchingly | ākula keśa antām = tousle, hair, ends: tousle-haired | vi pra mṛṣṭa: very, untidily, smudged | viśeṣakām = felicitous, vermilion mark on forehead: tilaka, sindoor] | manasvinām = uncompromising one: a husband-devout, pati vrata | tām vaidehīm: such a, Vaidehi | saḥ daśagrīvaḥ: he, that decahedral demon | ātma vināśāya: for self, ruination | tām jahāra: her, he abducted. |

TRANSLATION

She who is looking searchingly at the plane of earth for Rama or Lakshmana, and truly bawling in high-pitched but mellowly voice calling "Rama, Lakshmana", and whose hair-lengths are tousled, and whose felicitous vermilion mark on her forehead is smudged very untidily, that Decahedral demon abducted such an uncompromising husband-devout, Vaidehi, only for his self-ruination. [3-52-42a, 43]

VERSE 44

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे द्वि पंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe dvi paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

She who is already detracted from her kinsfolk in Mithila or in Ayodhya, that Maithili with pretty teeth and clean-cut smile is then distanced from the only two last kinsmen, for either Raghava or Lakshmana or both are unseen by her, and thus her face is paled for she is chastened by the cumber of consternation. [3-52-44]

PURPORT

There are many taboos annexed to woman saying that 'a woman is untouchable by other men...' and much discussion is also there in Ramayana. For this, the commentator of Dharmaakuutam says, that when Seetha herself said to Hanuma that touching other men is indecent in Sundara Kanda, Ch. 37, at verses 60 or so: bhartur bhaktim puraskrtya raamaat anyasya vaanara | na aham spraShTum padaa gaatram iccheyam vaanarottama || yadaham gaatra samsparsham raavaNasya gataa balaat | aniishaa kim kariShyaami vinaathaa vivashaa satii || the commentator questions 'how then can she embrace Jataayu, let alone touching?' and in answer he says iti hanuumantam prati para puruSha sparshana maatram anucitam iti vakShyasi | evam taadR^ishiiyam siitaa para puruSham jataayuSham katham aali~Ngatavati iti cet na | duShTa bhaavena para puruSha aali~Nganasya doShatvo api duHkha parihaaraaya aatura buddhi sparshane doSham a-bhaavaat | tatra - gautamaH - strii prekShaNa aalmbhane maithun kaa~NkShayaam - varjayet iti sheShaH | atra - mitraakSharaa - prakasheNa iikShaNam avayavasho niruupaNam - na yaadR^icchika darShanam | aalambhanam sparShanam | maithuna sha~Nkaayaam iti vacanaat baalaayaam - vR^iddhaayaam - aaturaayaam svasya ca baalaadeH na doSha iti | evam saamaanyatayaa baala vR^iddha aaturaaNaam para puruShaaNaam striibhiH sparshane kR^ito api na doShaH || 'advances towards a woman with a libidinous look, or a voluptuous gesticulation or lustful approaches are 'immoral' but mere touching or embracing age-old people, people in anguish etc, is as good as fondling her own babies...' Again according to gautama suutraa-s 'lustful eying, or teasingly hankering after other's women is to be avoided...' Even the mitraakshara 'A treatise of Friendlily Advises' says: 'seeing voyeuristically, bodily gesticulations, habitual observations, or hankering after lustfully etc., are immoral for a man of age at any woman...' This is discussed for the act of Seetha in hugging Jataayu at last verse of previous chapter of this Aranya Kanda: punaH ca samgR^ihya ruroda 'again taken into hands, wept away...' Some publications of this Gorakhpur version has this word samgR^ihya a word of less intensity, 'taken into hands...' has a replacement parishvajya, aali.ngya the words with clear-cut action, 'embraced, hugged a dying eagle with a fatherly affection. Therefore it does not mean women are 'untouchables' in general. From Ravana's side his curse is that, 'his head splinters into thousands of pieces if he touches other's woman...' But it is not yet splintered though he handled Seetha that roughly. Hence, that curse in its actuality is 'raping' but not mere 'touching' of body parts. Touching the 'untouchable' parts of other's women, that too without proper and full consent of that woman. As such, though he touched Seetha, carried on his flanks, took to his Lanka on his own body, he gives her time to reconcile herself, but does not make haphazard advances unilaterally. Thus, a difference between touching and fondling, grasping and caressing is established and it is no sin or taboo for any woman to do so.