Sundara Kanda — Sarga 26

प्रसक्ताश्रुमुखी त्वेवं ब्रुवती जनकात्मजा। अधोगतमुखी बाला विलप्तुमुपचक्रमे॥ उन्मत्तेव प्रमत्तेव भ्रान्तचित्तेव शोचती। उपावृत्ता किशोरीव विचेष्टन्ती महीतले॥

Saying this, the daughter of the king Janaka, bathed her countenance with tears and hanging down her head began to lament. And she began to roll on the earth like to a colt as if she was mad, possessed by a devil and had lost her sense.

Sundara Kanda 26.1

राघवस्य प्रमत्तस्य रक्षसा कामरूपिणा। रावणेन प्रमथ्याहमानीता क्रोशती बलात्॥

I, the spouse of Rāma, who was drawn away at a distance by the Rākşasa (Mārīca) assuming shapes at will, was seized and borne away by Rāvana.

Sundara Kanda 26.2

राक्षसीवशमापना भय॑माना च दारुणम्। चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखार्ता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे ॥

A captive of the Rākşasis, subject to their terrible threats and taunts, sunk in grief and anxiety, I desire not to keep my life.

Sundara Kanda 26.3

नहि मे जीवितेनार्थो नैवार्थेन च भूषणैः। वसन्त्या राक्षसीमध्ये विना रामं महारथम्॥

Of what avail are wealth, ornament and life to me, who am living in the midst of the Răkşasas and separated from Ráma, of the mighty car?

Sundara Kanda 26.4

अश्मसारमिदं नूनमथवाप्यजरामरम्। हृदयं मम येनेदं न दुःखेन विशीर्यते॥

Forsooth my my life is is made of stone, imperishable and immortal since it is not riven asunder even by this mighty grief.

Sundara Kanda 26.5

धिङ्गमनार्यामसती याहं तेन विना कृता। मुहूर्तमपि जीवामि जीवितं पापजीविका॥

Woe to me! who am unchaste and vile and my life is vicious, since breathe I still in the absence of my lord.

Sundara Kanda 26.6

चरणेनापि सव्येन न स्पृशेयं निशाचरम्। रावणं किं पुनरहं कामयेयं निशाचरम्॥

What of fixing my fancy on that night-ranger Rāvaņa, my meaner foot even shall not touch him?

Sundara Kanda 26.7

प्रत्याख्यानं न जानाति नात्मानं नात्मनः कुलम्। यो नृशंसस्वभावेन मां प्रार्थयितुमिच्छति॥

That (demon) who is courting me in this terrible way, does not know himself, his own race and that I loathe him so much.

Sundara Kanda 26.8

छिन्ना भिन्ना प्रभिन्ना वा दीप्ता वाग्नौ प्रदीपिता। रावणं नोपतिष्ठेयं किं प्रलापेन वश्चिरम्॥

What more shall I speak to you, I shall never consent to Rāvana's prayer, I might be rent from limb to limb or burnt in fire.

Sundara Kanda 26.9

ख्यातः प्राज्ञः कृतज्ञश्च सानुक्रोशश्च राघवः। सवृत्तो निरनुक्रोशः शङ्के मद्भाग्यसंक्षयात्॥

Rāghava is grateful, true, wise and kind. I fear it is through my ill-luck that he dose not feel pity for me.

Sundara Kanda 26.10

राक्षसानां जनस्थाने सहस्राणि चतुर्दश। एकेनैव निरस्तानि स मां किं नाभिपद्यते॥

Will he not take me back who alone slew the thousands of the Rākşasas in Janasthāna?

Sundara Kanda 26.11

निरुद्धा रावणेनाहमल्पवीर्येण रक्षसा। समर्थः खलु मे भर्ता रावणं हन्तुमाहवे॥

I have been captured by Rāvana, a Rākşasa of feeble prowess. Forsooth my lord is capable of slaying this Rāvana in conflict.

Sundara Kanda 26.12

विराधो दण्डकारण्ये येन राक्षसपुङ्गवः। रणे रामेण निहतः स मां किं नाभिपद्यते॥

Will not that Rāma regain me, by whom was killed in the forest of Dandaka, Virādha, the foremost of the Rākṣasa crew?

Sundara Kanda 26.13

कामं मध्ये समुद्रस्य लङ्केयं दुष्प्रधर्षणा। न तु राघवबाणानां गतिरोधो भविष्यति॥

Although situated in the midst of the ocean, Lankā is unapproachable by others, but Raghava's arrows shall also reach here.

Sundara Kanda 26.14

किं तु तत् कारणं येन रामो दृढपराक्रमः। रक्षसापहृतां भार्यामिष्टां यो नाभिपद्यते॥

(I am at a loss to ascertain) why Rāma of firm prowess, dose not regain me, his beloved spouse who have been borne away by the Räkşasa.

Sundara Kanda 26.15

इहस्थां मां न जानीते शङ्के लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः। जानन्नपि स तेजस्वी धर्षणां मर्षयिष्यति ॥

Methinks Rāma dose not know that I am here, or else, powerful as he is, he would not have put up with this insult.

Sundara Kanda 26.16

हृतेति मां योऽधिगत्य राघवाय निवेदयेत्। गृध्रराजोऽपि स रणे रावणेन निपातितः॥

That lord of vultures, who could have informed Rāghava, of my being born away by the Rākṣasa, was killed by Rāvana in the battle.

Sundara Kanda 26.17

कृतं कर्म महत् तेन मां तथाभ्यवपद्यता। तिष्ठता रावणवधे वृद्धेनापि जटायुषा॥

O great was the work done by him, who, old as he was, for my sake, addressed himself to bring about Rāvana's destruction.

Sundara Kanda 26.18

यदि मामिह जानीयाद् वर्तमानां हि राघवः। अद्य बाणैरभिक्रुद्धः कुर्याल्लोकमराक्षसम्॥

If Rāghava could know that I was here, he, exceedingly wroth, would have cleared the earth with his arrows, of the Raksasas.

Sundara Kanda 26.19

निर्दहेच्च पुरीं लङ्कां निर्दहेच्च महोदधिम्। रावणस्य च नीचस्य कीर्तिं नाम च नाशयेत्॥

He would have then burnt down the city of Lankā, dried up the deep and blotted out the name and fame of Rāvana.

Sundara Kanda 26.20

ततो निहतनाथानां राक्षसीनां गृहे गृहे। यथाहमेवं रुदती तथा भूयो न संशयः॥

And from each ruined home would have risen the Rākşasa widow's groans and cries like to those of mine.

Sundara Kanda 26.21

अन्विष्य रक्षसां लङ्का कुर्याद् रामः सलक्ष्मणः। नहि ताभ्यां रिपुर्दृष्टो मुहूर्तमपि जीवति ॥

Instituting enquiries, along with Lakṣmaṇa, he shall soon reduce Lankā to this plight. And observed by them the enemy shall not live for a moment.

Sundara Kanda 26.22

चिताधूमाकुलपथा गृध्रमण्डलमण्डिता। अचिरेणैव कालेन श्मशानसदृशी भवेत्॥

And in no time, shall Lankā, assume the appearance of a cremation ground, having all her high ways enveloped with smoke issuing out of the funeral pyres, and filled with vultures.

Sundara Kanda 26.23

अचिरेणैव कालेन प्राप्स्याम्येनं मनोरथम्। दुष्प्रस्थानोऽयमाभाति सर्वेषां वो विपर्ययः॥

And soon shall this desire of mine be fulfilled. All these words of mine do sound improbable now but they all indicate your misfortune.

Sundara Kanda 26.24

यादृशानि तु दृश्यन्ते लङ्कायामशुभानि तु। अचिरेणैव कालेन भविष्यति हतप्रभा ॥

Besides from these bad omens, that are to be seen here, it appear, that Lankä shall soon be shorn of her grace.

Sundara Kanda 26.25

नूनं लङ्का हते पापे रावणे राक्षसाधिये। शोषमेष्यति दुर्धर्षा प्रमदा विधवा यथा॥

The lord of the Rākşasas, the vicious Rāvana being killed, forsooth shall Lankā, divested of wealth, appear like a widow.

Sundara Kanda 26.26

पुण्योत्सवसमृद्धा च नष्टभी सराक्षसा। भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का नष्टभर्ती यथाङ्गना॥

This Lankā, which is now full of pious ceremonies, shall, on the death of the Rākṣasas and their master, appear like a husbandless woman.

Sundara Kanda 26.27

नूनं राक्षसकन्यानां रुदतीनां गृहे गृहे। श्रोष्यामि नचिरादेव दुःखार्तानामिह ध्वनिम्॥

For certain, shall I soon hear the cries and groans in every house, of the daughters of the Rākşasas worn with grief.

Sundara Kanda 26.28

सान्धकारा हतद्योता हतराक्षसपुङ्गवा। भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का निर्दग्धा रामसायकैः॥ यदि नाम स शूरो मां रामो रक्तान्तलोचनः। जानीयाद् वर्तमानां यां राक्षसस्य निवेशने॥

If that heroic Rāma, having dark-blue eyes, comes to know that I am in the abode of the Rākşasas, the city of Lankā shall be burnt down with his arrows and shall be stricken with darkness and shorn of grace and all the foremost of the Rākşasas shall be destroyed.

Sundara Kanda 26.29

अनेन तु नृशंसेन रावणेनाधमेन मे। समयो यस्तु निर्दिष्टस्तस्य कालोऽयमागतः॥

The time which was appointed by the vile and cruel Rāvana, has arrived.

Sundara Kanda 26.30

स च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुष्टेन वर्तते। अकार्यं ये न जानन्ति नैर्ऋताः पापकारिणः॥

And that vicious wretch has resolved to destroy me now. There is no crime which cannot be perpetrated by those vicious demons.

Sundara Kanda 26.31

अधर्मात् तु महोत्पातो भविष्यति हि साम्प्रतम्। नैते धर्मं विजानन्ति राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः॥

Mighty is the disaster that shall arise on account of this crime—the Räkşasas who live on flesh do not know what virtue is.

Sundara Kanda 26.32

ध्रुवं मां प्रातराशार्थं राक्षस: कल्पयिष्यति। साहं कथं करिष्यामि तं बिना प्रियदर्शनम्॥

Forsooth shall the Raksasa serve me for his morning meal. What shall I do without my lord of comely presence?

Sundara Kanda 26.33

रामं रक्तान्तनयनमपश्यन्ती सुदु:खिता। क्षिप्रं वैवस्वतं देवं पश्येयं पतिना विना ॥

Debarred from my husband's presence, stricken with grief and not beholding Rāma, having dark-blue eyes, I shall soon meet with death.

Sundara Kanda 26.34

नाजानाज्जीवती रामः स मां भरतपूर्वजः। जानन्तौ तु न कुर्यात्तां नो। हि परिमार्गणम्॥

Rāma, the elder brother of Bharata, dose not know that I am still alive or else he and Lakşmaņa would have ransacked the whole world for me.

Sundara Kanda 26.35

नूनं ममैव शोकेन स वीरो लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। देवलोकमितो यातस्त्यक्त्वा देहं महीतले॥

Or renouncing his body on this earth for my grief, the heroic elder brother of Lakşmaņa, has repaired to the celestial region.

Sundara Kanda 26.36

धन्या देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्व परमर्षयः। मम पश्यन्ति ये वीरं रामं राजीवलोचनम्॥

Blessed the celestials, Gandharvas, Siddhās and mighty ascetics who are beholding my heroic lotus-eyed Rāma.

Sundara Kanda 26.37

अथवा नहि तस्यार्थो धर्मकामस्य धीमतः। मया रामस्य राजर्षेर्भार्यया परमात्मनः॥

Or that highly intelligent royal ascetic desirous of securing piety and freed from the troubles of life, has no need of a wife like me.

Sundara Kanda 26.38

दृश्यमाने भवेत् प्रीतिः सौहृदं नास्त्यदृश्यतः। नाशयन्ति कृतघ्नास्तु न रामो नाशयिष्यति॥

Or people have fancy for what they see and are which disappear as soon as the object is out of sight. The ungrateful are capable of renouncing their love, but not Rāma.

Sundara Kanda 26.39

किं वा मय्यगुणाः केचित् किं वा भाग्यक्षयो हि मे। या हि सीता वराहेण हीना रामेण भामिनी॥

Or there might be some folly in me. Or on the wane of my good luck have been separated from the excellent Rāma.

Sundara Kanda 26.40

श्रेयो मे जीवितान्मर्तुं विहीनाया महात्मना। रामादक्लिष्टचारित्राच्छूराच्छत्रुनिबर्हणात्॥

Death is more preferable to me than life since. I have been separated from the high-souled heroic Rāma, of unblemished character and the slayer of foes.

Sundara Kanda 26.41

अथवा न्यस्तशस्त्रौ तौ वने मूलफलाशनौ। भ्रातरौ हि नरश्रेष्ठौ चरन्तौ वनगोचरौ॥

Or those two brothers, the foremost of men, laying aside their weapons, and living on fruits and roots, have been wandering in the forest.

Sundara Kanda 26.42

अथवा राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना। छद्मना घातितौ शूरौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥

Or those two heroic brothers Rāma and Laksmana, have been, by treachery, put to death, by the vicious-souled Rāvana, the lord of Raksasas.

Sundara Kanda 26.43

साहमेवंविधे काले मर्तुमिच्छामि सर्वतः। न च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुःखेऽतिवर्तति॥

At this time of distress, I do with all my heart long for death, (but alas!) even death is not approaching me is this my misery.

Sundara Kanda 26.44

धन्याः खलु महात्मानो मुनयः सत्यसम्मताः। जितात्मानौ महाभागा येषां न स्तः प्रियाप्रिये।४७।।

Oh blessed are those high-souled, great ascetics abiding by truth and having their senses in control, who have no objects of love or displeasure.

Sundara Kanda 26.45

प्रियान्न सम्भवेद् दुःखमप्रियादधिकं भवेत्। ताभ्यां हि ते वियुज्यन्ते नमस्तेषां महात्मनाम्॥

They are not distressed with misery for their objects of love or grief for them whom they do not love. They are freed from them and I do bow to those high-souled ones.

Sundara Kanda 26.46

साऽहं त्यक्ता प्रियेणैव रामेण विदितात्मना। प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि पापस्य रावणस्य गता वशम्॥

Being forsaken by the beloved Rāma, knowing his ownself, and brought under the control of Ravana, I shall renounce my life.

Sundara Kanda 26.47