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