Chapter 34
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
अथ ताम् जात सम्तापाम् तेन वाक्येन मोदिताम्
सरमा ह्लादयाम् आस महीं दग्धामिवाम्भसा
atha tām jāta samtāpām tena vākyena moditām
saramā hlādayām āsa mahīṃ dagdhāmivāmbhasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seetha, who was overwhelmed with anguish on hearing Ravana's words, was comforted and rendered happy by Sarama, as parched earth is solaced by rain.
ततस् तस्या हितम् सख्याश् चिकीर्षन्ती सखी वचः
उवाच काले कालज्ना स्मित पूर्व अभिभाषिणी
tatas tasyā hitam sakhyāś cikīrṣantī sakhī vacaḥ
uvāca kāle kālajnā smita pūrva abhibhāṣiṇī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Desiring to be of further service to her friend Seetha, the affectionate Sarama, skilled in the knowledge of time, smiling while talking, spoke the following words at that appropriate time.
उत्सहेयम् अहम् गत्वा त्वद् वाक्यम् असित ईक्षणे
निवेद्य कुशलम् रामे प्रतिच्चन्ना निवर्तितुम्
utsaheyam aham gatvā tvad vākyam asita īkṣaṇe
nivedya kuśalam rāme praticcannā nivartitum
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, black eyed lady! I am capable of carrying a message of your words and good will to Rama and to return secretly."
न हि मे क्रममाणाया निरालम्बे विहायसि
समर्थो गतिम् अन्वेतुम् पवनो गरुडो अपि वा
na hi me kramamāṇāyā nirālambe vihāyasi
samartho gatim anvetum pavano garuḍo api vā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When I am journeying in the sky self -supported, neither the god of wind nor Garuda the eagle can follow my movement."
एवम् ब्रुवाणाम् ताम् सीता सरमाम् पुनर् अब्रवीत्
मधुरम् श्लक्ष्णया वाचा पूर्व शोक अभिपन्नया
evam bruvāṇām tām sītā saramām punar abravīt
madhuram ślakṣṇayā vācā pūrva śoka abhipannayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
To Sarama, who was speaking as aforesaid, Seetha her voice no longer charged with grief, gently and sweetly replied in the following words:
समर्था गगनम् गन्तुम् अपि वा त्वम् रसा तलम्
अवगच्चाम्य् अकर्तव्यम् कर्तव्यम् ते मद् अन्तरे
samarthā gaganam gantum api vā tvam rasā talam
avagaccāmy akartavyam kartavyam te mad antare
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You are capable of going to heaven or to the penultimate subterranean region. Know from me today the duty that has got to be performed by you for my sake."
मत् प्रियम् यदि कर्तव्यम् यदि बुद्धिः स्थिरा तव
ज्नातुम् इच्चामि तम् गत्वा किम् करोति इति रावणः
mat priyam yadi kartavyam yadi buddhiḥ sthirā tava
jnātum iccāmi tam gatvā kim karoti iti rāvaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If your intention is to act kindly towards me and your resolve is firm , I wish you to go and know what Ravana is doing now."
स हि माया बलः क्रूरो रावणः शत्रु रावणः
माम् मोहयति दुष्ट आत्मा पीत मात्रा इव वारुणी
sa hi māyā balaḥ krūro rāvaṇaḥ śatru rāvaṇaḥ
mām mohayati duṣṭa ātmā pīta mātrā iva vāruṇī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That cruel and evil minded Ravana, equipped with strength in the shape of conjuring tricks, who makes his enemies cry has bemused me, as spirituous liquor bemuses one, the moment it is imbibed."
तर्जापयति माम् नित्यम् भर्त्सापयति च असक्र्त्
राक्षसीभिः सुघोराभिर् या माम् रक्षन्ति नित्यशः
tarjāpayati mām nityam bhartsāpayati ca asakrt
rākṣasībhiḥ sughorābhir yā mām rakṣanti nityaśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He causes me to be threatened by words all the time by the most frightful ogresses, who always surround me and insult me by their act repeatedly."
उद्विग्ना शन्किता च अस्मि न च स्वस्थम् मनो मम
तद् भयाच् च अहम् उद्विग्ना;अशोक वनिकाम् गताः
udvignā śankitā ca asmi na ca svastham mano mama
tad bhayāc ca aham udvignā;aśoka vanikām gatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I am depressed in mind and distrustful. My mind is not in its natural state. Staying in Ashoka grove, I am distressed because of his fear."
यदि नाम कथा तस्य निश्चितम् वा अपि यद् भवेत्
निवेदयेथाः सर्वम् तत् परो मे स्याद् अनुग्रहः
yadi nāma kathā tasya niścitam vā api yad bhavet
nivedayethāḥ sarvam tat paro me syād anugrahaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Report to me, all that is decided by him during his talk going on with his ministers about the matter of releasing me or keeping me captive. It will be of great service to me."
साप्येवम् ब्रुवतीम् सीताम् सरमा वल्गु भाषिणी
उवाच वचनम् तस्याः स्पृशन्ती बाष्प विक्लवम्
sāpyevam bruvatīm sītām saramā valgu bhāṣiṇī
uvāca vacanam tasyāḥ spṛśantī bāṣpa viklavam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The soft spoken Sarama, wiping her face, which got moist with tears, replied as follows to Seetha who was speaking as aforesaid:
एष ते यद्य् अभिप्रायस् तस्माद् गच्चामि जानकि
गृह्य शत्रोर् अभिप्रायम् उपाव्र्त्ताम् च पश्य माम्
eṣa te yady abhiprāyas tasmād gaccāmi jānaki
gṛhya śatror abhiprāyam upāvrttām ca paśya mām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If your opinion is like this, I shall go on that account, O, Seetha! Having grasped the feeling of the enemies, I shall return O, Seetha!"
एवम् उक्त्वा ततो गत्वा समीपम् तस्य रक्षसः
शुश्राव कथितम् तस्य रावणस्य समन्त्रिणः
evam uktvā tato gatvā samīpam tasya rakṣasaḥ
śuśrāva kathitam tasya rāvaṇasya samantriṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Speaking thus, Surama thereafter went to the vicinity of that demon and heard the conversation of Ravana who was with his ministers.
सा श्रुत्वा निश्चयम् तस्य निश्चयज्ना दुरात्मनः
पुनर् एव अगमत् क्षिप्रम् अशोक वनिकाम् तदा
sā śrutvā niścayam tasya niścayajnā durātmanaḥ
punar eva agamat kṣipram aśoka vanikām tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sarama, who knew how to investigate could hear the wicked Ravana's resolve and soon returned to Ashoka grove.
सा प्रविष्टा पुनस् तत्र ददर्श जनक आत्मजाम्
प्रतीक्षमाणाम् स्वाम् एव भ्रष्ट पद्माम् इव श्रियम्
sā praviṣṭā punas tatra dadarśa janaka ātmajām
pratīkṣamāṇām svām eva bhraṣṭa padmām iva śriyam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sarama, who entered the Ashoka grove, saw Seetha who looked like Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity (and the wife of Vishnu); bereft of the lotus and waiting for her only.
ताम् तु सीता पुनः प्राप्ताम् सरमाम् वल्गु भाषिणीम्
परिष्वज्य च सुस्निग्धम् ददौ च स्वयम् आसनम्
tām tu sītā punaḥ prāptām saramām valgu bhāṣiṇīm
pariṣvajya ca susnigdham dadau ca svayam āsanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seetha affectionately embraced the kindly speaking Surama who returned there and offered personally a seat to her.
इह आसीना सुखम् सर्वम् आख्याहि मम तत्त्वतः
क्रूरस्य निश्चयम् तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः
iha āsīnā sukham sarvam ākhyāhi mama tattvataḥ
krūrasya niścayam tasya rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Sitting here comfortably, tell me about the real design of that cruel and wicked Ravana"
एवम् उक्ता तु सरमा सीतया वेपमानया
कथितम् सर्वम् आचष्त रावणस्य समन्त्रिणः
evam uktā tu saramā sītayā vepamānayā
kathitam sarvam ācaṣta rāvaṇasya samantriṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When Seetha trembling with fear enquired thus, Sarama narrated all the conversation of Ravana together with his ministers.
जनन्या राक्षस इन्द्रो वै त्वन् मोक्ष अर्थम् बृहद् वचः
अविद्धेन च वैदेहि मन्त्रि वृद्धेन बोधितः
jananyā rākṣasa indro vai tvan mokṣa artham bṛhad vacaḥ
aviddhena ca vaidehi mantri vṛddhena bodhitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Excellent words were spoken by Kaikasi, the mother of Ravana as well as Aviddha the aged minister asking for your release, O Seetha!"
दीयताम् अभिसत्क्र्त्य मनुज इन्द्राय मैथिली
निदर्शनम् ते पर्याप्तम् जन स्थाने यद् अद्भुतम्
dīyatām abhisatkrtya manuja indrāya maithilī
nidarśanam te paryāptam jana sthāne yad adbhutam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let Seetha, be restored honorably to Rama the Lord of men. That wonderful** thing happened in Janasthana is an enough eye- opener to you."
PURPORT
लन्घनम् च समुद्रस्य दर्शनम् च हनूमतः
वधम् च रक्षसाम् युद्धे कः कुर्यान् मानुषो भुवि
langhanam ca samudrasya darśanam ca hanūmataḥ
vadham ca rakṣasām yuddhe kaḥ kuryān mānuṣo bhuvi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Which mortal would accomplish the crossing of the ocean, the discovery of Seetha by Hanuman, and the carnage of the demons in combat on this earth?"
एवम् स मन्त्रि वृद्धैश्च मात्रा च बहु भाषितः
न त्वाम् उत्सहते मोक्तुम् अर्तह्म् अर्थ परो यथा
evam sa mantri vṛddhaiśca mātrā ca bahu bhāṣitaḥ
na tvām utsahate moktum artahm artha paro yathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Though admonished in many ways by the aged ministers and his mother he is not inclined to set you free, any more than a miser would leave his hold on his riches.
न उत्सहत्य् अम्र्तो मोक्तुम् युद्धे त्वाम् इति मैथिलि
सामात्यस्य नृशंसस्य निश्चयो ह्य् एष वर्तते
na utsahaty amrto moktum yuddhe tvām iti maithili
sāmātyasya nṛśaṃsasya niścayo hy eṣa vartate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Seetha! He does not want to release you, without dying himself in a battle. This is the resolve of the cruel Ravana along with his ministers."
तद् एषा सुस्थिरा बुद्धिर्मृत्यु लोभाद् उपस्थिता
भयान् न शक्तस् त्वाम् मोक्तुम् अनिरस्तस् तु सम्युगे
tad eṣā susthirā buddhirmṛtyu lobhād upasthitā
bhayān na śaktas tvām moktum anirastas tu samyuge
TRANSLATION
-"Thereafter, due to infatuation caused by his impending death, his aforesaid determination is very firm .He is not in a position to release you, not through sheer fear, but until he is actually defeated in battle through the carnage of all the demons and of himself."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, dark eyed Seetha! Killing Ravana by his sharp arrows in combat, Rama will take you back to Ayodhya by all means."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In the meantime was heard the sound of all the monkey troops blended with the sound of kettle drums, causing earth to shake.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe catustriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing that sound of that monkey troops, the servants of Ravana stationed in Lanka were lack- luster with their movements, overcome by depression. They did not see anything salutary in it, owing to the fault of their king.