Sundara Kanda 24

Chapter [Sarga] 24

Introduction

Seetha cites the examples of Sachi, Arundhati, Rohini et.al., on their devotion towards their husbands. Ogre women threaten to kill Seetha and eat her.

tataH siitaamupaagamya raakSasyo vikR^itaananaaH |
paruSaM paruSaa naarya UcustaaM vaakyamapriyam || 5-24-1

Thereafter ogre women with a cruel nature, with crooked faces neared that Seetha and spoke unpleasant words harshly.

kiM tvamantaHpure siite sarvabhuutamanohare |
mahaarhashayanopete na vaasamanumanyase || 5-24-2

"O Seetha! Why are you not agreeing to stay in the gynaeceum which is  pleasing to all beings and which is with very best beds."

maanuSii maanuSasyaiva bhaaryaatvaM bahumanyase |
pratyaahara mano raamaanna tvaM jaatu bhaviSyasi || 5-24-3

"You who are a human are thinking highly about the wifehood of a human being. Withdraw your mind from Rama. Otherwise you will not exist at all."

trailokyavasubhoktaaraM raavaNaM raakSaseshvaram |
bhartaaramupasaMgamya viharasva yathaasukham || 5-24-4

"Sport according to your comfort coming together with the king of ogres Ravana,  enjoying luxuries of the three worlds and taking him as husband.

maanuSii maanuSaM taM tu raamamichchhasi shobhane |
raajyaadbhraaSTamasiddhaarthaM viklabaM tvamanindite || 5-24-5

"O beautiful one! O irrreproachable one! But being a human you are desiring that Ram, a who is a human, banished from kingdom, unsuccessful and gloomy."

raakSasiinaaM vachaH shrutvaa siitaa padmanibhekSaNaa |
netraabhyaamashrupuurNaabhyaamidaM vacanamabraviit || 5-24-6

Seetha, with eyes like lotuses, hearing the words of ogre women spoke these words with eyes filled with tears.

yadidam lokavidviSTamudaaharatha saMgataaH |
naitanmanasi vaakyaM me kilbiSaM pratibhaati vaH || 5-24-7

" Whatever words all of you, coming together, spoke in my matter which are hated in the world,  does it not seem sinful in your mind?"

na maanuSii raakSasasya bhaaryaa bhavitumarhati |
kaamaM khaadata maaM sarvaa na kariSyaami vo vachaH || 5-24-8

"Human woman is not waited to become wife of an ogre. All of you freely eat me. I will not honour your words."

diino vaa raajyahiino vaa yo me bhartaa sa me guruH |
taM nityamanuraktaasmi yathaa suuryaM suvarchalaa || 5-24-9

"Although wretched or without kingdom, whoever is my husband, He alone is my master. Like Suvarchala with the Sun God, I am fond of Him always."

yathaa shacii mahaabhaagaa shakraM samupatiSThati |
arundhatii vasiSThaM ca rohiNii shashinaM yathaa || 5-24-10
lopaamudraa yathaagastyaM sukanyaacyavanaM yathaa |
saavitrii satyavantaM ca kapilaM shriimatii yathaa || 5-24-11
saudaasaM madayantiiva keshinii sagaraM yathaa |
naiSadhaM damayantiiva bhaimii patimanuvrataa || 5-24-12
tathaahamikSvaakuvaraM raamaM patimanuvrataa |

"Like the highly fortunate Sachi who waits upon Indra, like Arundhati on Vasishta, like Rohini on the Moon God, like Lopamudra on Agastya, like Sukanya on Chyavana, like Savitri on Satyavanta, like Srimati on Kapila, like Madayanti on Saudasa, like Kesini on Sagara, like Damayanti the daughter of Bhima, devoted to husband Nala, in the same way I am devoted to my husband Rama, the best in Ikshvaku dynasty."

siitaayaa vacanaM shrutvaa raakSasyaH krodhamuurchitaaH || 5-24-13
bhartsayanti sma paruSairvaakyai raavaNacoditaaH |

Ogre women who are incited by Raavana,  listening to the words of Seetha, swooned with anger and frightened Her with harsh words.

avaliinaH sa nirvaakyo hanumaan shiMshupaadrume || 5-24-14
siitaaM saMtarjayantiistaa raaksasiirashR^iNot kapiH |

That monkey Hanuma, not talking and hiding in the Simsupa tree,  listened to those ogre women frightening Seetha.

taamabhikramya saMkruddaa vepamaanaaM samantataH || 5-24-15
bhR^ishaM saMlilihurdiiptaan pralabman dashanachchhadaan |

Those ogres angry licked a lot shining and hanging lips, neared mother Seetha who was shaking with fear in all directions

Uchushcha paramakruddhaaH pragR^ihyaashu parashvadhaan || 5-24-16
neyamarhati bhartaaraM raavaNaM raakSasaadhipam |

Being angry a lot and grasping axes quickly spoke as follows: "This woman is not suited to have the king of ogres Ravana as husband."

saa bhartasyamaanaa bhiimaabhii raakSasiibhirvaraananaa || 5-24-17
sabaaSpamapasarpantii shiMshupaaM taamupaagamat |

Being frightened by ogre women who were horrible that Seetha with best face with tears in eyes and moving from there reached that Simsupa tree.

tatastaaM shiMshupaaM siitaa raakSasiibhiH samaavR^itaa || 5-24-18
abhigamya vishaalaakSii tasthau shokapariplutaa |

Thereafter the wide eyed Seetha nearing that Simsupa tree being surrounded by ogre women was situated there with gloom.

taaM kR^ishaaM diinavadanaaM malinaambaradhaariNiim || 5-24-19
bhartsayaaMchakrire siitaaM raakSasyastaam samantataH |

Those ogres frightened from all directions that Seetha who was emaciated with a pitiful face and wearing dirty garments.

tatastaaM vinataa naama raakSasii bhiimadarshanaa || 5-24-20
abraviitkupitaakaaraa karaaLaa nirNatodarii |

Thereafter an ogre woman named Vinata with a horrible appearance with an angry form, crooked, having a prominent belly spoke to Her.

siite paryaaptametaavadbhartuH sneho nidarshitaH || 5-24-21
sarvaatraatikR^itaM bhadre vyasanaayopakalpate |

"O Seetha! You have showed love of husband. This much is enough. O auspicious one! At all times doing something excessively serves as vice."

parituSTaasmi bhadraM te maanuSaste kR^ito vidhiH || 5-24-22
mamaapi tu vachaH pathyaM bruvantyaaH kuru maithili |

"O Seetha! I am happy. Human duty has been done by you. Let there be fortune to you. Do also according to my wholesome words being told."

raavaNaM bhja bhartaaraM bhartaaraM sarvarakSasaam || 5-24-23
vikraantaM ruupavantaM cha sureshamiva vaasavam |
dakSiNaM tyaagashiilaM cha sarvasya priyadarshanam || 5-24-24

"Obtain as husband Ravana who is the lord of al l ogres, bold and handsome, like Indra the lord of Devas, able one and liberal with a pleasing appearance to all."

maanuSaM kR^ipaNaM raamaM tyaktvaa raavaNamaashraya |
divyaaN^garaagaa vaidehi divyaabharaNabhuuSitaa || 5-24-25
adyaprabhR^iti sarveSaaM lokanaamiishvarii bhava |

"Leaving Rama who is a human and miserable, seek refuge in Ravana. O Seetha! With best unguents to the body and decorated with best ornaments, become mistress of all the worlds from today."

agneH svaahaa yathaa devii shichii vendrasya shobhane || 5-24-26
kiM te raameNa vaidehi kR^ipaNena gataayiSaa |

"O auspicious one! Like Svaha the wife of the Fire God, like Sachi the wife of Indra become mistress of all worlds. O Seetha! What is the use with Rama who is miserable and with gone vigour."

etaduktaM cha me vaakyaM yadi tvaM na kariSyapi || 5-24-27
asminmuhuurte sarvaastvaaM bhakSayiSyaamahe vayam |

If you do not do my this spoken word, all of us in this moment will eat you.

anyaa tu vikaTaa naama labamaanapayodharaa || 5-24-28
abraviitkupitaa siitaaM muSTimudyamya garjatii |

Another ogre named Vikata with hanging breasts raising fist and roaring with anger spoke to Seetha.

bahUnypriyaruupaaNi vachanaani sudurmate || 5-24-29
anukroshaanmaR^idutvaachcha soDhaani tava maithili |

"O Seetha with an evil mind! Your many words which are unpleasant have been tolerated due to pity and due to softness."

na cha naH kuruSe vaakyaM hitaM kaalapuruskR^itam || 5-24-30
aniitaasi samudrasya paaramanyairduraasadam |
raavaNaantaHpuraM ghoraM praviSTaa chaasi maithili || 5-24-31

"O Seetha! You are not doing according to our word which is respected by time and wholesome. You have been brought to this bank of the ocean not obtainable by others. You have entered the terrible gynaeceum of Ravana."

raavaNasya gR^ihe ruddhaamasmaabhistu surakSitaam |
na tvaaM shaktaH paritraatumapi saakSaatpurandaraH || 5-24-32

"Withheld in the house of Ravana well protected by us, even Devendra himself is not capable to protect you."

kuruSva hitavaadinyaa vachanaM mama maithili |
alamashruprapaatena tyaja shokamanrthakam || 5-24-33

"O Seetha! Do according to my word, which is beneficial. Discharge of tears is enough. Leave worthless gloom."

bhaja priitiM cha harSaM cha tyajaitaaM nityadainyataam |
siite raakSasaraajena saha kriiDa yathaasukham || 5-24-34

"O Seetha! Have love and happiness. Leave this daily gloom. Sport according to comfort with the king of ogres."

jaanaasi hi yathaa bhiiru striiNaaM yauvanamadhruvam |
yaavanna te vyatikraamettaavatsukhamavaapnuhi || 5-24-35

"O timid one! You know how youth of women is not lasting. As long as your youth will not pass away, so long get comfort."

udyaanaani ca ramyaaNi parvatopavanaani cha |
saha raakSasaraajena chara tvaM madirekSaNe || 5-24-36

"O one with intoxicating eyes! You along with king of ogres roam beautiful groves, mountains and nearby forests.

striisahasraaNi te sapta vashe sthaasyanti sundari |
raavaNaM bhaja bhartaaraM bhrtaaraM sarvarakSasaam || 5-24-37

"O beautiful one! seven thousand women will be in your control. Have as husband Ravana the lord of all ogres."

utpaaTya vaa te hR^idayaM bhakSayiSyaami maithili |
yadi me vyaahR^itaM vaakyaM na yathaavatkariSyasi || 5-24-38

"O Seetha! If you do not do according to my spoken word as is, I will eat your heart indeed by plucking it out."

tatashchaNDodarii naama raakSasii krodhamUrchhitaa |
bhraamayantii mahacchuulamidaM vacanambraviit || 5-24-39

Thereafter an ogre woman named Chandodari swooning with anger, turning around a big spike spoke this word.

imaaM hariNalolaakSiiM traasotkampipayodharaaM |
raavaNena hR^itaaM dR^iSTvaa dauhR^ido me mahaanabhuut || 5-24-40

"Seeing this woman with eyes like that of a deer, with moving breasts due to fear, abducted by Ravana, there occured to me a great desire."

yakR^itlpiihamathotpiiDaM hR^idayaM cha sabandhanam |
antraaNyapi tathaa shiirSaM khaadeyamiti me matiH || 5-24-41

"It is my mind to eat the liver, the spleen, flesh above heart and heart together with muscle and entrails and the head."

tatastu praghasaa naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit |
kaNThamasyaa nR^ishaMsaayaaH piiDayaama kimaasyate || 5-24-42

An ogre woman named Pragasa spoke these words : "Squeeze the neck of this cruel woman. Why do we delay?"

nivedyataaM tato raajJNe maanuSii saa mR^iteti ha |
naatra kashchana saMdehaH khaadateti sa vakSyati || 5-24-43

"Thereafter let it be known to the king that that human woman has died. He will say thus : "Eat.". There is no doubt in this matter."

tatastvajaamukhii naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit |
vishasyemaaM tataH sarvaaH samaan kuruta piilukaan || 5-24-44

Thereafter an ogre woman named Ajamukhi spoke these words : "All of you killing this woman thereafter do equal pieces."

vibhajaama tataH sarvaa vivaado me na rochate |
peyamaaniiyataaM kSipraM lehyamuchchaavachaM bahu || 5-24-45

"Thereafter all of us will divide. Quarrel is not desirable to me. Liquor, many kinds and a lot of lickables be brought quickly."

tataH shuurpaNakhaa naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit |
ajaamukhyaa yaduktaM hi tadeva mama rochate || 5-24-46

Thereafter an ogre woman named Surpanakha spoke these words: "That which was spoken by Ajamukhi, is desirable to me."

suraa chaaniiyataaM kSipraM sarvashokavinaashinii |
maanuSaM maaM samaasvaadya nR^ityaamotha nikumbhilaam || 5-24-47

"Liquor which is the destroyer of all sorrow be brought quickly. Eating human flesh afterwards, we will dance for propitiating Nikumbila."

evaM saMbhartsyamaanaa saa siitaa surasutopamaa |
raakSasiibhiH sughoraabhirdhairyamutsR^ijya roditi || 5-24-48

Thus being frightened by horrible ogres, that Seetha equalling a daughter of gods, abandoning fortitude, was crying.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe chaturviMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 24th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.