Chapter 116
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही परुषं लोमहर्षणम्
राघवेण सरोषेण भृशं प्रव्यथिताभवत्
evamuktā tu vaidehī paruṣaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
rāghaveṇa saroṣeṇa bhṛśaṃ pravyathitābhavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the harsh words with indignation, spoken by Rama, which caused her hair to stand on end, Seetha became very much perturbed.
सा तदश्रुतपूर्वं हि जने महति मैथिली
श्रुत्वा भर्तृवचो रूक्षं लज्जया व्रीडिताभवत्
sā tadaśrutapūrvaṃ hi jane mahati maithilī
śrutvā bhartṛvaco rūkṣaṃ lajjayā vrīḍitābhavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the terrific words of her husband, which were never actually heard by her before, amidst a large gathering of people, Seetha stood bent low with shame.
प्रविशन्तीव गात्राणि स्वान्येव जनकात्मजा
वाक्षल्यैस्तैः सशल्येव भृशमश्रूण्यवर्तयत्
praviśantīva gātrāṇi svānyeva janakātmajā
vākṣalyaistaiḥ saśalyeva bhṛśamaśrūṇyavartayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As though her own limbs were pierced by those words, which were arrow-like with pointed splinters, Seetha shed profuse tears.
ततो बाष्पपरिक्लिष्टं प्रमार्जन्ती स्वमाननम्
शनैर्गद्गदया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्
tato bāṣpaparikliṣṭaṃ pramārjantī svamānanam
śanairgadgadayā vācā bhartāramidamabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, wiping clean her face, which was bathed in tears, she spoke the following words slowly, in a stammering voice to her husband.
किं मामसदृशं वाक्यमीदृशं श्रोत्रदारुणम्
रूक्षं श्रावयसे वीर प्राकृतः प्राकृताम् इव
kiṃ māmasadṛśaṃ vākyamīdṛśaṃ śrotradāruṇam
rūkṣaṃ śrāvayase vīra prākṛtaḥ prākṛtām iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O valiant Rama! Why are you speaking such harsh words, which are violent to hear for me, like a common man speaking to a common woman?"
न तथास्मि महाबाहो यथा त्वमवगच्छसि
प्रत्ययं गच्छ मे स्वेन चारित्रेणैव ते शपे
na tathāsmi mahābāho yathā tvamavagacchasi
pratyayaṃ gaccha me svena cāritreṇaiva te śape
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O the long-armed one! I am not the one in the way you understand me. Have a faith in me. I swear to you by my own character."
पृथक्स्त्रीणां प्रचारेण जातिं त्वं परिशङ्कसे
परित्यजेमां शङ्कां तु यदि ते।अहं परीक्षिता
pṛthakstrīṇāṃ pracāreṇa jātiṃ tvaṃ pariśaṅkase
parityajemāṃ śaṅkāṃ tu yadi te|ahaṃ parīkṣitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By the conduct of vulgar woman you distrust the entire race of women. Give up this doubt, if I have been actually tested (and found trustworthy) by you."
यद्यहं गात्रसंस्पर्शं गतास्मि विवशा प्रभो
कामकारो न मे तत्र दैवं तत्रापराध्यति
yadyahaṃ gātrasaṃsparśaṃ gatāsmi vivaśā prabho
kāmakāro na me tatra daivaṃ tatrāparādhyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O lord! It was not my willfulness, when I came into contact with the person of Ravana. I was helpless. My adverse fate was to blame on that score."
मदधीनं तु यत्तन्मे हृदयं त्वयि वर्तते
पराधीनेषु गात्रेषु किं करिष्याम्यनीश्वरा
madadhīnaṃ tu yattanme hṛdayaṃ tvayi vartate
parādhīneṣu gātreṣu kiṃ kariṣyāmyanīśvarā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My heart, which was subservient to me, was abiding in you. What could I do, helpless as I was, with regard to my limbs which had fallen under the sway of another?"
सहसंवृद्धभावाच्च संसर्गेण च मानद
यद्यहं ते न विज्ञाता हता तेनास्मि शाश्वतम्
sahasaṃvṛddhabhāvācca saṃsargeṇa ca mānada
yadyahaṃ te na vijñātā hatā tenāsmi śāśvatam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O bestower of honour! If I could not be fully known to you, in spite of our love having simultaneously grown and despite of our having lived together, I am ruined permanently by such ignorance."
प्रेषितस्ते यदा वीरो हनूमानवलोककः
लङ्कास्थाहं त्वया वीर किं तदा न विसर्जिता
preṣitaste yadā vīro hanūmānavalokakaḥ
laṅkāsthāhaṃ tvayā vīra kiṃ tadā na visarjitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O king! Hanuma, the great hero, was sent by you as your search-agent. Why I, who was still in Lanka, was not abandoned then itself?"
प्रत्यक्षं वानरेन्द्रस्य त्वद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम्
त्वया सन्त्यक्तया वीर त्यक्तं स्याज्जीवितं मया
pratyakṣaṃ vānarendrasya tvadvākyasamanantaram
tvayā santyaktayā vīra tyaktaṃ syājjīvitaṃ mayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O hero! Life would have been given up by me, when deserted by you; immediately on hearing the message (conveying your desertion) before the eyes of the monkey."
न वृथा ते श्रमो।अयं स्यात्संशये न्यस्य जीवितम्
सुहृज्जनपरिक्लेशो न चायं निष्फलस्तव
na vṛthā te śramo|ayaṃ syātsaṃśaye nyasya jīvitam
suhṛjjanaparikleśo na cāyaṃ niṣphalastava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This wasteful endeavour (in the form of crossing over to Lanka and waging war against the mighty Ravana, keeping your life in jeopardy), would not have been there, nor would have your friends been put to such fruitless hardship."
त्वया तु नरशार्दूल क्रोधमेवानुवर्तता
लघुनेव मनुष्येण स्त्रीत्वमेव पुरस्कृतम्
tvayā tu naraśārdūla krodhamevānuvartatā
laghuneva manuṣyeṇa strītvameva puraskṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O excellent king! You, however, like a feeble man, gave priority to womanliness, conforming yourself to just an emotion of anger."
अपदेशेन जनकान्नोत्पत्तिर्वसुधातलात्
मम वृत्तं च वृत्तज्ञ बहु ते न पुरस्कृतम्
apadeśena janakānnotpattirvasudhātalāt
mama vṛttaṃ ca vṛttajña bahu te na puraskṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O knower of virtuous conduct! My birth was from Janaka in disguise; but was actually from the earth. My sacred birth of such a high degree, was not honoured by you."
न प्रमाणीकृतः पाणिर्बाल्ये बालेन पीडितः
मम भक्तिश्च शीलं च सर्वं ते पृष्ठतः कृतम्
na pramāṇīkṛtaḥ pāṇirbālye bālena pīḍitaḥ
mama bhaktiśca śīlaṃ ca sarvaṃ te pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My hand taken (by you as a bride) in our childhood was not duly recognized by you. My devotion, my chastity and all have been ignored by you."
इति ब्रुवन्ती रुदती बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी
उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता दीनं ध्यानपरायणम्
iti bruvantī rudatī bāṣpagadgadabhāṣiṇī
uvāca lakṣmaṇaṃ sītā dīnaṃ dhyānaparāyaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seetha, thus speaking, weeping and stammering with tears, said to Lakshmana, who was sad and engaged in thoughtfulness (as follows):
चितां मे कुरु सौमित्रे व्यसनस्यास्य भेषजम्
मिथ्यापवादोपहता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे
citāṃ me kuru saumitre vyasanasyāsya bheṣajam
mithyāpavādopahatā nāhaṃ jīvitumutsahe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Lakshmana! Create a pile of fire, for me, which is a remedy for this disaster. I no longer wish to survive, smitten as am with false blames."
अप्रीतेन गुणैर्भर्त्रा त्यक्ता या जनसंसदि
या क्षमा मे गतिर्गन्तुं प्रवेक्ष्ये हव्यवाहनम्
aprītena guṇairbhartrā tyaktā yā janasaṃsadi
yā kṣamā me gatirgantuṃ pravekṣye havyavāhanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I will enter a fire, to obtain the only course appropriate for me, who has been abandoned amidst an assembly of men, by my husband who was not satisfied with my traits."
एवं ब्रुवाणा रुदती बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी
अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं सीता दीनं ध्यानपरं स्थितम्
evaṃ bruvāṇā rudatī bāṣpagadgadabhāṣiṇī
abravīllakṣmaṇaṃ sītā dīnaṃ dhyānaparaṃ sthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Seetha, Lakshmana, the destroyer of enemy warriors, giving way to wrath, looked towards Rama.
स विज्ञाय मनश्छन्दं रामस्याकारसूचितम्
चितां चकार सौमित्रिर्मते रामस्य वीर्यवान्
sa vijñāya manaśchandaṃ rāmasyākārasūcitam
citāṃ cakāra saumitrirmate rāmasya vīryavān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Understanding the inclination of the mind of Rama, hinted by the expression in his face, that valiant Lakshmana prepared a pyre, in deference to the wishes of Rama.
न हि रामं तदा कश्चित्कालान्तकयमोपमम्
अनुनेतुमथो वक्तुं द्रष्टुं वा प्यशकत्सुहृत्
na hi rāmaṃ tadā kaścitkālāntakayamopamam
anunetumatho vaktuṃ draṣṭuṃ vā pyaśakatsuhṛt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
No one near and dear was indeed able to cajole on that occasion or to speak or even to look upon Rama, who appeared like Yama the lord of death at the time of dissolution of the world.
अधोमुखं ततो रामं शनैः कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्
उपासर्पत वैदेही दीप्यमानं हुताशनम्
adhomukhaṃ tato rāmaṃ śanaiḥ kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam
upāsarpata vaidehī dīpyamānaṃ hutāśanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, Seetha, after doing circumambulation to Rama, who was standing with his head bent low, proceeded towards the blazing fire.
प्रणम्य देवताभ्यश्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च मैथिली
बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा चेदमुवाचाग्निसमीपतः
praṇamya devatābhyaśca brāhmaṇebhyaśca maithilī
baddhāñjalipuṭā cedamuvācāgnisamīpataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having offered salutation to gods and brahmins as also having joined her palms in the vicinity of the fire, Seetha spoke the following words:
यथा मे हृदयं नित्यं नापसर्पति राघवात्
तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः
yathā me hṛdayaṃ nityaṃ nāpasarpati rāghavāt
tathā lokasya sākṣī māṃ sarvataḥ pātu pāvakaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"As my heart never moves off from Rama, so let the fire-god, the witness of the world, protect me from all sides."
यथा मां शुद्धचरितां दुष्टां जानाति राघवः
तथा लोकस्य साक्षी मां सर्वतः पातु पावकः
yathā māṃ śuddhacaritāṃ duṣṭāṃ jānāti rāghavaḥ
tathā lokasya sākṣī māṃ sarvataḥ pātu pāvakaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"As Rama apprehends me, though of unimpeachable conduct, to be spoilt, let the fire-god the witness of the world protect me from all sides."
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यथा नातिचराम्यहम्
राघवं सर्वधर्मज्ञं तथा मां पातु पावकः
karmaṇā manasā vācā yathā nāticarāmyaham
rāghavaṃ sarvadharmajñaṃ tathā māṃ pātu pāvakaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"As I have never been unfaithful in act, thought and speech to Rama, who knows all the virtues, so let the fire-god protect me."
आदित्योभवान् वायुर्दिशश्चन्द्रस्तथैव च
अहश्चापि तथा सन्ध्ये रात्रिश्च पृथिवी तथा
ādityobhavān vāyurdiśaścandrastathaiva ca
ahaścāpi tathā sandhye rātriśca pṛthivī tathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Since the adorable sun-god, wind-god, the four quarters and even so the moon-god, as also the deity presiding over the day-time and the twilights and the night and the earth and even others know me to be endowed with good conduct, so let the fire-god protect me."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus speaking, Seetha walking around the fire-god, with her mind free from hesitation, entered the blazing fire.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A large gathering of men including children and elders, saw the shining Seetha having entered the fire there.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Seetha, with the shining of fresh refined gold and decked with ornaments of refined gold, plunged into the blazing fire, in the presence of all people.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All the living beings saw then that wide-eyed Seetha, who looked like a golden altar, plunging into the fire.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The sages, gods, and the Gandharvas saw that illustrious Seetha entering deep into the fire as a sacred oblation of clarified butter.
प्रचुक्रुशुः स्त्रियः सर्वास्तां दृष्ट्वा हव्यवाहने
pracukruśuḥ striyaḥ sarvāstāṃ dṛṣṭvā havyavāhane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All the women (who were present there) screamed on seeing her, rushing into the fire, like a gush of clarified butter plunging into the sacrificial fire, duly consecrated by Vedic hymns.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The denizens of the entire three worlds including the gods, Gandharvas and demons, beheld her falling into the fire, like a goddess, subjected to a curse, falling from heaven to hell.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे षोडशाधिकशततमः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe ṣoḍaśādhikaśatatamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While she was entering deeply into the fire, a loud sound, which appeared strange, uttering 'Alas, Alas' rose both from the demons and the monkeys alike.
