सुन्दर-काण्ड > सीताजी का प्राणों के त्याग का निश्चय



In this chapter Seetha ponders a lot and decides to give up life without Rama.
प्रसक्ताश्रुमुखी त्वेवं ब्रुवती जनकात्मजा |
अधोगतमुखी बाला विलप्तुमुपचक्रमे || ५-२६-१
With a face continually shedding tears, Seetha an young woman, thus speaking with a downward face, started to weep.
उन्मत्तेव प्रमत्तेव भ्रान्तचित्तेव शोचती |
उपावृत्ता किशोरीव विवेष्टन्ती महीतले || ५-२६-२
Seetha was crying like a mad one, like an intoxicated one, with a deluded mind. Like a female horse rolling on ground, Seetha rolled on the ground.
राघवस्य प्रमत्तस्य रक्षसा कामरूपिणा |
रावणेन प्रमथ्याहमानीता क्रोशती बलात् || ५-२६-३
"While Rama was heedless (taken away by Mareecha), I who have been crying was forcibly brought overpowered by the ogre Ravana who can wear desired form."
राक्षसीवशमापन्ना भर्त्स्यमाना सुदारुणम् |
चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखार्ता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे || ५-२६-४
"Being under the control of ogresses, being frightened very horribly, thinking and being tormented by grief, I do not desire to live."
न हि मे जीविते नार्थो नै वार्थैर्न च भूषणैः |
वसन्त्या राक्षसीमध्ये विना रामं महारथम् || ५-२६-५
"Without Rama, a great car-warrior, living in the midst of ogresses, there is no use with life to me; not with wealth, not with ornaments."
अश्मसारमिदं नूनथवाप्यजरामरम् |
हृदयं मम येनेदं न दुःखेनावशीर्यते || ५-२६-६
"Or my this heart truly is made of iron. It is undecaying and without death. By what reason is it not destroying with sorrow?"
धिङ्मामनार्यामसतीं याहं तेन विना कृता |
मुहूर्तमपि रक्षामि जीवितं पापजीविता || ५-२६-७
"Whoever I with a sinful life made to be without Rama, protecting life even for a moment, to such me who am ignoble, who am bad wife, shame on me."
का च मे जीविते श्रद्धा सुखे वा तं प्रियं विना |
भर्तारं सागरान्ताया वसुधायाः प्रियंवदम् || ५-२६-८
"Without husband Rama who is the lord of the earth with ocean at the end, a pleasant talker, what is the interest to me in life or in comfort."
भिद्यतां भक्ष्यतां वापि शरीरं विसृजाम्यहम् |
न चाप्यहं चिरं कुःखं सहेयं प्रियवर्जिता || ५-२६-९
"I will leave the body. Let it be split into pieces or let it be eaten. I without husband will not tolerate sorrow for a long time."
चरणेनापि सव्येन न स्पृशेयं निशाचरम् |
रावणं किं पुनरहं कावयेयं विगर्हतम् || ५-२६-१०
"I will not touch even with my left foot Ravana an ogre of reprehensible conduct. What to say of desiring him."
प्रत्याख्यातं न जानाति नात्मानं नात्मनः कुलम् |
यो नृशंसस्वभावेन मां प्रार्थयितुमिच्छति || ५-२६-११
"Whoever Ravana with a cruel nature is desiring to solicit me, that Ravana does not know him to be refused; he does not know his race."
चिन्ना भिन्ना विभक्ता वा दीप्तेवाग्नौ प्रदीपिता |
रावणं नोपतिष्ठेयं किं प्रलापेन वश्चिरम् || ५-२६-१२
"Even if cut or if divided into parts in blazing fire, I will not reach Ravana. What is the use with your prattling for a long time?"
ख्यातः प्राज्ञः कृतज्ञ्शश्च राघवः |
सद्वृत्तो निरनुक्रोशः शङ्के मद्भाग्यसंक्षयात् || ५-२६-१३
"Rama is famous, is a wise man, is compassionate with a good conduct. Due to the deterioration of my fortune, I doubt He became hard hearted."
राक्षसानां सहस्राणि जनस्थाने चतुर्दश |
येनैकेन निरस्तानि स मां किं नाभिपद्यते || ५-२६-१४
"By whom alone fourteen thousand of ogres have been destroyed, why is that Rama not saving me."
निरुद्धा रावणेनाहमल्पवीर्येण रक्षसा |
समर्थः खलु मे भर्ता रावणं हन्तुमाहवे || ५-२६-१५
"I am withheld by the ogre Ravana with little strength. My husband is indeed capable of killing Ravana in a war."
विराधो दण्डकारण्ये येन राक्षसपुङ्गवः |
रणे रामेण निहतः स मां किं नाभिपद्यते || ५-२६-१६
"By which Rama Viradha, best among ogres, has been killed in Dandaka forest in a war, why is that He not saving me?"
कामं मध्ये समुद्रस्य लङ्केयं दुष्प्रधर्षणा |
न तु राघवबाणानां गतिरोधो भविष्यति || ५-२६-१७
"This city of Lanka being in the middle of ocean is difficult to be attacked. But there will not be an obstacle to flying of Rama's arrows."
किं नु तत्कारणं येन रामो दृढपराक्रमः |
रक्षसापहृतां भार्यामिष्टां नाभ्यवपद्यते || ५-२६-१८
"What now is that reason by which Rama with a firm courage is not protecting His dear wife stolen by an ogre."
इहस्थां मां न जानीते शङ्के लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः |
जानन्नपि स तेजस्वी धर्षणं मर्षयिष्यति || ५-२६-१९
"I doubt that Rama elder to Laksmana does not know me to be here. After knowing will that glorious Rama tolerate this outrage?"
हृतेति योऽधिगत्वा मां राघवाय निवेदयेत् |
गृध्रारजोऽपि स रणे रावणेन निपातितः || ५-२६-२०
"Whoever Jatayu nearing Rama will have let known to Rama that Seetha was stolen, that king of vultures has been killed by Ravana in war."
कृतं कर्म महत्तेन मां तथाभ्यवपद्यता |
तिष्ठता रावणद्वन्द्वे वृद्धेनापि जटायुषा || ५-२६-२१
"A great deed has been done by that Jatayu, thus protecting me, although of old age, standing in a dual combat with Ravana."
यदि मामिह जानीयाद्वर्तमानां स राघवः |
अद्य बाणैरभिक्रुद्धः कुर्याल्लोकमराक्षसम् || ५-२६-२२
"If that Rama knows me to be living here, with anger He will make the world to be without ogres with His arrows now."
विधमेच्च पुरीं लङ्कां शोषयेच्च महोदधिम् |
रावणस्य च नीचस्य कीर्तिं नाम च नाशयेत् || ५-२६-२३
"Rama will blow away the city of Lanka, will dry up the great ocean, will destroy the name and fame of Ravana."
ततो निहतनाथानां राक्षसीनां गृहे गृहे |
यथाहमेवं रुदती तथा भुयो न संशयः || ५-२६-२४
"Thereafter how I am crying in this way, in the same way, in very house, ogresses with killed husbands will cry again and again. There is no doubt in this."
अन्विष्य रक्षसां लङ्कां कुर्याद्रामः सलक्ष्मणः |
न हि ताभ्यां रिपुर्दृष्टो मुहूर्तमपि जीवति || ५-२६-२५
"Rama together will Lakshmana will search the city of Lanka belonging to ogres. An enemy seen by those two will indeed not live even for a moment."
चिताधुमाकुलपथा गृध्रमण्डलसंकुला |
अचिरेण तु लङ्केयं श्मशानसदृशी भवेत् || ५-२६-२६
"This Lanka shortly will become like a graveyard, with paths agitated with smoke of funeral pyres, crowded with a group of vultures."
अचिरेणैव कालेन प्राप्स्याम्येव मनोरथम् |
दुष्प्रस्थानोऽयमाख्याति सर्वेषाम् वो विपर्ययम् || ५-२६-२७
"In a short time only I will attain my desire. This evil course is telling of destruction of you all."
यादृशानीह दृशन्ते लङ्कायामशुभानि वै |
अचिरेणैव कालेन भविष्यति हतप्रभा || ५-२६-२८
"Here in Lanka whatever inauspicious things are being seen, from those, in a short while Lanka will become deprived of glory."
नूनं लङ्का हते पापे रावणे राक्षसाधमे |
शोषं यास्यति दुर्धर्षा प्रमदा विधव यथा || ५-२६-२९
"While the sinful, vile ogre Ravana is being killed, Lanka which is unconquerable till now, definitely will get drying up like a woman who lost husband."
पुण्योत्सव समृद्धा च नष्टभर्र्ती सराक्षसी |
भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का नष्टभर्त्री यथाङ्गना || ५-२६-३०
"Now abounding in pious festivities, the city of Lanka with lost lord together with ogresses will become like a woman with lost husband."
नूनं राक्षसकन्यानां रुदन्तीनां गृहे गृहे |
श्रोष्यामि नचिरादेव दुःखार्तानामिह ध्वनिम् || ५-२६-३१
"In a short while here in every house I can definitely hear the sound of ogresses crying being tormented by grief."
सान्धकारा हतद्योता हतराक्षसपुङ्गवा |
भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का निर्दग्धा रामसायकैः || ५-२६-३२
"The city of Lanka will become burnt by Rama's arrows together with darkness, with destroyed luster with killed best ogres."
यदि नाम स शूरो मां रामो रक्तान्तालोचनः |
जानीयद्वर्तमानां हि रावणस्य निवेशने || ५-२६-३३
"Will that Rama who is a strong man with red eye corners know me to be in the house of Ravana."
अनेन तु नृशंसेन रावणेनाधमेन मे |
समयो यस्तु निर्दिष्टस्तस्य कालोऽयमागतः || ५-२६-३४
स च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुष्टे न वर्तते |
"Whatever time has been ordered by this cruel and vilest of men Ravana, this time has come to me. That death decreed to me does not hold good to this evil one (Ravana)."
अकार्यं ये न जानन्ति नैरृताः पापकारिणः || ५-२६-३५
अधर्मात्तु महोत्पातो भविष्यति हि सांप्रतम् |
नैते धर्मं विजानन्ति राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः || ५-२६-३६
"Whoever sinful ogres who do not know what should not be done, due to their unrighteousness now there will be a great calamity. These meat eating ogres do not know virtue."
ध्रुवं मां प्रातराशार्थे राक्षसः कल्पयिस्यति |
साहं कथं करिष्यामि तं विना प्रियदर्शनम् || ५-२६-३७
रामम् रक्तान्तनयनमपश्यन्ती सुकुःखिता |
"An ogre will definitely eat me for breakfast. What should such I do without Rama with pleasing appearance? I am grieving a lot not seeing Rama with red eye corners."
यदि कश्चित् प्रदाता मे विषस्याद्य भवेदिह || ५-२६-३८
क्षिप्रं वैवस्वतं देवं पश्येयं पतिना विना |
"Now if there exists any one who is a giver of poison here, I without husband quickly will see the god Yama."
नाजानाज्जिवतीं रामः स मां लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः || ५-२६-३९
जानन्तौ तौ न कुर्यातां नोर्य्वां हि मम मार्गणम् |
"That Rama elder to Lakshmana may not know me to be alive. If those two know me to be alive, then it cannot be said that they will not do my search on earth."
नूनं ममैव शोकेन स नीरो लक्ष्मणाग्रजः || ५-२६-४०
देवलोकमितो यातस्त्यक्त्वा देहं महीतले |
"That valiant Rama who is the elder brother of Lakshmana due to grief of me, leaving the body on earth has gone to celestial world. This is certain."
धन्या देवाह् सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः || ५-२६-४१
मम पश्यन्ति ये नाथं रामं राजीवलोचनम् |
"Whoever is seeing my husband Rama with eyes resembling a lotus flower such Devas, Siddhas together with Gandharvas and great sages are fortunate."
अथवा न हि तस्यार्थो द्कर्मकामस्य धीमतः || ५-२६-४२
मया रामस्य राजर्षेर्भार्यया परमात्मनः |
"Or to that Rama with a desire in virtuousness, who is intelligent, a sage-king, the supreme spirit, there is no use with me, his wife."
दृश्यमाने भवेत्प्रीतिः सौहृदं नास्त्यपश्यतः || ५-२६-४३
नाशयन्ति कृतघ्नास्तु न रामो नाशयिष्यति |
"Friendly disposition will occur in what is being seen. There is no friendship to one who does not see. Ungrateful ones destroy frindship. But Rama will not destroy friendship."
किं नु मे न गुणाः केचित्किं वा भाग्यक्षयो मम || ५-२६-४४
याहं सीदामि रामेण हीना मुख्येन भामिनी |
"I who is a woman who is perishing without the chief Rama to such me are there no good qualities or has my fortune diminished."
श्र्यो हि हीवितान्मर्तुं विहीनाया महात्मनः || ५-२६-४५
रामादक्लिष्टचारित्राच्छूराच्छत्रुनिबर्हणात् |
"To me who is deprived of Rama with untroubled reputation, a warrior, annihilator of enemies, a great soul, more than living, death is good."
अथवा न्यस्तशस्त्रौ तौ वने मूलफलाशिनौ || ५-२६-४६
भ्रातरौ हि नरश्रेष्ठौ संवृत्तौ वनगोचरौ |
"Or those two brothers who are best among men giving up weapons in the forest may have become dwellers of forest eating roots and fruits."
अथवा राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना || ५-२६-४७
चद्मना घातितौ शूरौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ |
"Or Rama and Lakshmana the warrior brothers may have been killed by the evil soul king of ogres Ravana by deceit."
साहमेवंगते काले मर्तुमिच्छामि सर्वथा || ५-२६-४८
न च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुःखेऽपि वर्तते |
"Under such circumstances and time, such I in all ways am desiring to die. Even in this grief, death is not bestowed on me."
धन्याः खलु महात्मानो मुनयस्त्यक्तकिल्बिषाः || ५-२६-४९
जितात्मनो महाभागा येषां न स्तः प्रियाप्रिये |
"Great souled ones with abandoned sins, with a conquered mind, those with great fortune, sages are indeed fortunate to whom there is no pleasure and displeasure."
प्रियान्न संभवेद्दुःखमप्रियादधिकं भयम् || ५-२६-५०
ताभ्यां हि ये वियुज्यन्ते नमस्तेषां महात्मनाम् |
"From pleasure sorrow and from displeasure great fear do not occur to great souls. Whoever are separated from pleasure and displeasure, my obeisance to such great souls."
साहंत्युक्ता प्रियेणैव रामेन विदितात्मना || ५-२६-५१
प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि पापस्य रावनस्य गता वशम् |
"Left by dear Rama with a well known mind coming under the control of sinful Ravana, such I will leave breath of life."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः