Chapter 48
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
भर्तारम् निहतम् दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणम् च महा बलम्
विललाप भृशम् सीता करुणम् शोक कर्शिता
bhartāram nihatam dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇam ca mahā balam
vilalāpa bhṛśam sītā karuṇam śoka karśitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing her husband and the mighty Lakshmana having been killed, Seetha was very much emaiated through grief and lamented pitiably (as follows):
ऊचुर् लक्षणिका ये माम् पुत्रिण्य् अविधवा इति च
ते अस्य सर्वे हते रामे अज्नानिनो अनृत वादिनः
ūcur lakṣaṇikā ye mām putriṇy avidhavā iti ca
te asya sarve hate rāme ajnānino anṛta vādinaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The sooth sayers, reading the marks and signs on my body, prophesized that I shall bear sons and never be widowed. Now that Rama has been slain, their words have proved to be untrue."
यज्वनो महिषीम् ये माम् ऊचुह् पत्नीम् च सत्रिणः
ते अद्य सर्वे हते रामे अज्नानिनो अनृत वादिनः
yajvano mahiṣīm ye mām ūcuh patnīm ca satriṇaḥ
te adya sarve hate rāme ajnānino anṛta vādinaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Since Rama is slian, all those astrologers, who predicted that I shold be the companio of a sattra sacrifice and the consort of the performer of great sacrifices, now have proved to be utteres of falsehood."
वीर पार्थिव पत्नी त्वम् ये धन्या इति च माम् विदुः
ते अद्य सर्वे हते रामे अज्नानिनो अनृत वादिनः
vīra pārthiva patnī tvam ye dhanyā iti ca mām viduḥ
te adya sarve hate rāme ajnānino anṛta vādinaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Now that Rama has been slain, all those sooth-sayers who predicted that I should be honoured by my husband as well as the wives of warriors and kings, are proved to be liars."
ऊचुः संश्रवणे ये माम् द्विजाह् कार्तान्तिकाह् शुभाम्
ते अद्य सर्वे हते रामे अज्नानिनो अनृत वादिनः
ūcuḥ saṃśravaṇe ye mām dvijāh kārtāntikāh śubhām
te adya sarve hate rāme ajnānino anṛta vādinaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Now that Rama has been slain, all those astrologers among the wise brahmins. Who openly foretold that I should remain happy with my husband are proved to have spoken falsely!"
इमानि खलु पद्मानि पादयोर् यैह् किल स्त्रियः
अधिराज्ये अभिषिच्यन्ते नर इन्द्रैह् पतिभिह् सह
imāni khalu padmāni pādayor yaih kila striyaḥ
adhirājye abhiṣicyante nara indraih patibhih saha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Yet I bear the marks of lotus on my soles by virtue of which high-born women are consecrated on an imperial throne with their husbands and lords."
वैधव्यम् यान्ति यैर् नार्यो अलक्षणैर् भाग्य दुर्लभाः
न आत्मनस् तानि पश्यामि पश्यन्ती हत लक्षणा
vaidhavyam yānti yair nāryo alakṣaṇair bhāgya durlabhāḥ
na ātmanas tāni paśyāmi paśyantī hata lakṣaṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not find those marks of ill-fortune which betoken widowhood in women who are ill-starred and as I examine, all the auspicious signs appear to be rendered void for me."
सत्यानि इमानि पद्मानि स्त्रीणाम् उक्त्वानि लक्षणे
तान्य् अद्य निहते रामे वितथानि भवन्ति मे
satyāni imāni padmāni strīṇām uktvāni lakṣaṇe
tāny adya nihate rāme vitathāni bhavanti me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Those marks of the lotus said to be good angury for women by wise men, have become meaningless, now that Rama is slain."
केशाह् सूक्ष्माह् समा नीला भ्रुवौ च असम्गते मम
वृत्ते च अलोमशे जन्घे दन्ताश् च अविरला मम
keśāh sūkṣmāh samā nīlā bhruvau ca asamgate mama
vṛtte ca alomaśe janghe dantāś ca aviralā mama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My hair is fine, black in colour and smooth. My eye-brows are disunited. My shanks are hair-less and well rounded. My teeth are contiguous, without any gaps between them."
शन्खे नेत्रे करौ पादौ गुल्फाव् ऊरू च मे चितौ
अनुवृत्ता नखाह् स्निग्धाह् समाश् च अन्गुलयो मम
śankhe netre karau pādau gulphāv ūrū ca me citau
anuvṛttā nakhāh snigdhāh samāś ca angulayo mama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My temples, eyes, arms, feet, ankles and thights are homogenous and well-proportioned. My fingers have well-rounded and glossy nails, having a right lenght."
स्तनौ च अविरलौ पीनौ मम इमौ मग्न चूचुकौ
मग्ना च उत्सन्गिनी नाभिह् पार्श्व उरस्कम् च मे चितम्
stanau ca aviralau pīnau mama imau magna cūcukau
magnā ca utsanginī nābhih pārśva uraskam ca me citam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My breasts are close to each other, fully developed and have depressed nipples. My navel is deeply idented. My flanks and bossom are well-formed."
मम वर्णो मणि निभो मृदून्य् अन्ग रुहाणि च
प्रतिष्ठिताम् द्वदशभिर् माम् ऊचुह् शुभ लक्षणाम्
mama varṇo maṇi nibho mṛdūny anga ruhāṇi ca
pratiṣṭhitām dvadaśabhir mām ūcuh śubha lakṣaṇām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My complexion has the sheen of a pearl. The hair on my skin are soft. It is said of me as endowed with auspicious signs, in that I touched the ground with my twelve limbs (viz. the ten toes and two soles).
समग्र यवम् अच्चिद्रम् पाणि पादम् च वर्णवत्
मन्द स्मिता इत्य् एव च माम् कन्या लक्षणिका विदुः
samagra yavam accidram pāṇi pādam ca varṇavat
manda smitā ity eva ca mām kanyā lakṣaṇikā viduḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Those who interpret the marks of youthful maidens spoke of me that my hands and feet are rosy, fully provided with marks each resembling a barley corn, devoid of space between my fingers and toes and that my smile is gentle."
अधिराज्ये अभिषेको मे ब्राह्मणैह् पतिना सह
कृत अन्त कुशलैर् उक्तम् तत् सर्वम् वितथी कृतम्
adhirājye abhiṣeko me brāhmaṇaih patinā saha
kṛta anta kuśalair uktam tat sarvam vitathī kṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All that was told by brahmins well-versed in sooth-saying, of me that- I should be consecrated on the imperial throne along with my husband -proved to be in vain."
शोधयित्वा जन स्थानम् प्रवृत्तिम् उपलभ्य च
तीर्त्वा सागरम् अक्षोभ्यम् भ्रातरौ गोष्पदे हतौ
śodhayitvā jana sthānam pravṛttim upalabhya ca
tīrtvā sāgaram akṣobhyam bhrātarau goṣpade hatau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Having searched all the resorts of men, received the tidings of my fate, and crossed the impassable ocean, those two brothers have perishe din the imprint of a cow's hoof ( a small puddle)."
ननु वारुणम् आग्नेयम् ऐन्द्रम् वायव्यम् एव च
अस्त्रम् ब्रह्म शिरश् चैव राघवौ प्रत्यपद्यताम्
nanu vāruṇam āgneyam aindram vāyavyam eva ca
astram brahma śiraś caiva rāghavau pratyapadyatām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama and Lakshmana surely knew the use of the arrows of Varuna, Agni, Indra and Vayu, as also the Brahmashira weapon."
अदृश्यमानेन रणे मायया वासव उपमौ
मम नाथाव् अनाथाया निहतौ राम लक्ष्मणौ
adṛśyamānena raṇe māyayā vāsava upamau
mama nāthāv anāthāyā nihatau rāma lakṣmaṇau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By means of magic arts, an invisible foe has slain Rama and Lakshmana, my protectors, who are equal to Indra in battle and I am now bereft of any support."
न हि दृष्टि पथम् प्राप्य राघवस्य रणे रिपुः
जीवन् प्रतिनिवर्तेत यद्य् अपि स्यान् मनो जवः
na hi dṛṣṭi patham prāpya rāghavasya raṇe ripuḥ
jīvan pratinivarteta yady api syān mano javaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Having reached the range of sight of Rama in a combat, no enemy could return alive, eventhough he were endowed with the swiftness of thought."
न कालस्य अतिभारो अस्ति कृत अन्तश् च सुदुर्जयः
यत्र रामह् सह भ्रात्रा शेते युधि निपाथितः
na kālasya atibhāro asti kṛta antaś ca sudurjayaḥ
yatra rāmah saha bhrātrā śete yudhi nipāthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
There is no burden too heavy for death to shoulder, as Rama along with his brother are lying struck down on the battle-field. Fate is inexorable."
न अहम् शोचामि भर्तारम् निहतम् न च लक्ष्मणम्
न आत्मानम् जननी च अपि यथा श्वश्रूम् तपस्विनीम्
na aham śocāmi bhartāram nihatam na ca lakṣmaṇam
na ātmānam jananī ca api yathā śvaśrūm tapasvinīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not repent so much for Rama and Lakshmana or for myself or even my mother but for my unfortunate mother-in-law, Kausalya."
सा हि चिन्तयते नित्यम् समाप्त व्रतम् आगतम्
कदा द्रक्ष्यामि सीताम् च रामम् च सह लक्ष्मणम्
sā hi cintayate nityam samāpta vratam āgatam
kadā drakṣyāmi sītām ca rāmam ca saha lakṣmaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Kausalya for her part, forever remains absorbed in the thought 'When shall I see Lakshmana and Seetha with Rama returned (to Ayodhya) having completed his vow (of remaining in exile in the forest for fourteen years)?"
परिदेवयमानाम् ताम् राक्षसी त्रिजटा अब्रवीत्
मा विषादम् कृथा देवि भर्ता अयम् तव जीवति
paridevayamānām tām rākṣasī trijaṭā abravīt
mā viṣādam kṛthā devi bhartā ayam tava jīvati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The demoness Trijata spoke to that lamenting Seetha as follows : "O, the god-like lady! Do not despair. Your husband, Rama is still living."
कारणानि च वक्ष्यामि महान्ति सदृशानि च
यथा इमौ जीवतो देवि भ्रातरौ राम लक्ष्मणौ
kāraṇāni ca vakṣyāmi mahānti sadṛśāni ca
yathā imau jīvato devi bhrātarau rāma lakṣmaṇau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, godlike lady! I will tell you mighty and cogent reasons, how these two brothers Rama and Lakshmana are living."
न हि कोप परीतानि हर्ष पर्युत्सुकानि च
भवन्ति युधि योधानाम् मुखानि निहते पतौ
na hi kopa parītāni harṣa paryutsukāni ca
bhavanti yudhi yodhānām mukhāni nihate patau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The leader having been lost, the faces of the soldiers on the field of battle are never seized by anger nor are they animated with joy."
इदम् विमानम् वैदेहि पुष्पकम् नाम नामतः
दिव्यम् त्वाम् धारयेन् न इदम् यद्य् एतौ गज जीवितौ
idam vimānam vaidehi puṣpakam nāma nāmataḥ
divyam tvām dhārayen na idam yady etau gaja jīvitau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Seetha! This aerial car called Pushpaka by name, celestial as it is, would not have brought you here, if those two heroes have lost their lives."
हत वीर प्रधाना हि हत उत्साहा निरुद्यमा
सेना भ्रमति सम्ख्येषु हत कर्णा इव नौर् जले
hata vīra pradhānā hi hata utsāhā nirudyamā
senā bhramati samkhyeṣu hata karṇā iva naur jale
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"An army that sees its valiant commander falll, is bereft of courage and wanders aimlessly about on the battle field, like a ship which has broken its rudder in water."
इयम् पुनर् असम्भ्रान्ता निरुद्विग्ना तरस्विनी
सेना रक्षति काकुत्स्थौ मायया निर्जितौ रणे
iyam punar asambhrāntā nirudvignā tarasvinī
senā rakṣati kākutsthau māyayā nirjitau raṇe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This army for its part is neither confused nor perturbed and is guarding Rama and Lakshman. I am pointing this out to you on account of my affection for you, O lady given to austerities!"
सा त्वम् भव सुविस्रब्धा;अनुमानैह् सुख उदयैः
अहतौ पश्य काकुत्स्थौ स्नेहाद् एतद् ब्रवीमि ते
sā tvam bhava suvisrabdhā;anumānaih sukha udayaiḥ
ahatau paśya kākutsthau snehād etad bravīmi te
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You as such, be reassured by these auspicious omens. Behold Rama and Lakshman who are not dead. I am telling you this, on account of my affection for you."
अनृतम् न उक्त पूर्वम् मे न च वक्ष्ये कदाचन
चारित्र सुख शीलत्वात् प्रविष्टा असि मनो मम
anṛtam na ukta pūrvam me na ca vakṣye kadācana
cāritra sukha śīlatvāt praviṣṭā asi mano mama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Seetha! I have not spoken falsehood before, nor shall I ever do so. By your conduct and natural gaiety, you have found a place in my heart!"
न इमौ शक्यौ रणे जेतुम् स इन्द्रैर् अपि सुर असुरैः
एतयोर् आननम् दृष्ट्वा मया च आवेदितम् तव
na imau śakyau raṇe jetum sa indrair api sura asuraiḥ
etayor ānanam dṛṣṭvā mayā ca āveditam tava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even celestials and demons along with Indra cannot vanquish there two heroes in battle. This is what I have observed and communicated to you."
इदम् च सुमहच् चिह्नम् शनैह् पश्यस्व मैथिलि
निह्सम्ज्नाव् अप्य् उभाव् एतौ न एव लक्ष्मीर् वियुज्यते
idam ca sumahac cihnam śanaih paśyasva maithili
nihsamjnāv apy ubhāv etau na eva lakṣmīr viyujyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Seetha!; See this, a great marvel !; See how, fallen under those shafts and deprived of their senses, thier beauty has not deserted them."
प्रायेण गत सत्त्वानाम् पुरुषाणाम् गत आयुषाम्
दृश्यमानेषु वक्त्रेषु परम् भवति वैकृतम्
prāyeṇa gata sattvānām puruṣāṇām gata āyuṣām
dṛśyamāneṣu vaktreṣu param bhavati vaikṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Generally, the faces of those who lost their lives and whose vital power has vanished, will be appearing with an appalling alteration".
त्यज शोकम् च दुह्खम् च मोहम् च जनक आत्मजे
राम लक्ष्मणयोर् अर्थे न अद्य शक्यम् अजीवितुम्
tyaja śokam ca duhkham ca moham ca janaka ātmaje
rāma lakṣmaṇayor arthe na adya śakyam ajīvitum
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Seetha! Banish your grief, pain and ignorance on account of Rama and Lakshmana. It is impossible, now with the splendour seen in their faces, for Rama and Lakshmana to die."
श्रुत्वा तु वचनम् तस्याह् सीता सुर सुता उपमा
कृत अन्जलिर् उवाच इदम् एवम् अस्त्व् इति मैथिली
śrutvā tu vacanam tasyāh sītā sura sutā upamā
kṛta anjalir uvāca idam evam astv iti maithilī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing her words, Seetha, the daughter of Mithila kingdom resembling a daughter of gods, with joined palms exclaimed, "May it be so."
विमानम् पुष्पकम् तत् तु समिवर्त्य मनो जवम्
दीना त्रिजटया सीता लन्काम् एव प्रवेशिता
vimānam puṣpakam tat tu samivartya mano javam
dīnā trijaṭayā sītā lankām eva praveśitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
After sending back that aerial car, Pushpaka which was as swift as the thought, the sorrowful Seetha was caused by Trijata to enter Lanka once more.
ततस् त्रिजटया सार्धम् पुष्पकाद् अवरुह्य सा
अशोक वनिकाम् एव रक्षसीभिह् प्रवेशिता
tatas trijaṭayā sārdham puṣpakād avaruhya sā
aśoka vanikām eva rakṣasībhih praveśitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Seetha along with Trijata who descended from Pshpaka the aerial car, were caused by the female demons, to enter the Ashoka grove again.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायने आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे अष्टचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyane ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe aṣṭacatvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Entering that Ashoka grove, planted with a multitude of trees, sporting ground of Ravana and recalling the two princes who she had just seen, Seetha gave way to extreme grief.