Yuddha Kanda — Sarga 34

अथ तां जातसंतापां तेन वाक्येन मोदिताम्। सरमा हादयामास महीं दग्धामिवाम्भसा ॥

Burning with grief on account of those words,* Sarama gladdened and cheered her, even as masses of clouds (cheer up) the burning Earth. *i.e.the words of Ravana.

Yuddha Kanda 34.1

ततस्तस्या हितं सख्याश्चिकीर्षन्ती सखी वचः। उवाच काले कालज्ञा स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिणी॥

Then, desirous of doing her good, (Sita's) friend, conversant with season, and ever precluding her speech with a smile, spoke to her seasonably.

Yuddha Kanda 34.2

उत्सहेयमहं गत्वा त्वद्वाक्यमसितेक्षणे। निवेद्य कुशलं रामे प्रतिच्छना निवर्तितुम्॥

O you having dark eyes, I can, secretly going to Rama and communicating to him your auspicious words, come back clandestinely.

Yuddha Kanda 34.3

नहि मे क्रममाणाया निरालम्बे विहायसि। समर्थो गतिमन्वेतुं पवनो गरुडोऽपि वा॥

Nor, when I course the supportless sky, can even the Wind or Garuda follow me.

Yuddha Kanda 34.4

एवं ब्रुवाणां तां सीता सरमामिदमब्रवीत्। मधुरं श्लक्ष्णया वाचा पूर्वशोकाभिपन्नया॥

As she said this, Sita with her grief a little lightened, said to Sarama in sweet and smooth words.

Yuddha Kanda 34.5

समर्था गगनं गन्तुमपि च त्वं रसातलम्। अवगच्छाद्य कर्तव्यं कर्तव्यं ते मदन्तरे॥

You are capable of even going to the nethermost regions. But do you on my behalf that which is fit to be done by you.

Yuddha Kanda 34.6

मत्प्रियं यदि कर्तव्यं यदि बुद्धिः स्थिरा तव। ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तं गत्वा किं करोतीति रावणः॥

If you intend doing me a good turn, and if your sense be steady, I would know what Ravana is doing after having left this place.

Yuddha Kanda 34.7

स हि मायाबलः क्रूरो रावणः शत्रुरावणः। मां मोहयति दुष्टात्मा पीतमात्रेव वारुणी॥

That guileful and wicked-minded one, Rāvana, destroyer of enemies, having powers of illusion, overwhelms me even as the Vāruni just drunk.

Yuddha Kanda 34.8

तर्जापयति मां नित्यं भर्सापयति चासकृत्। राक्षसीभिः सुघोराभिर्यो मां रक्षति नित्यशः॥

Confining me here for ever and a day, (Rāvana) sets on dreadful Räksnasas to alike threaten and scold me constantly.

Yuddha Kanda 34.9

उद्विग्ना शङ्किता चास्मि न स्वस्थं च मनोगम। तद्भयाच्चाहमुद्विग्ना अशोकवनिकां गता॥

And I am agitated and alarmed and my mind is (always) uneasy. And I, dwelling in the Asoka wood, is ever agitated.

Yuddha Kanda 34.10

यदि नाम कथा तस्य निश्चितं वापि यद्भवेत्। निवेदयेथाः सर्वं तद्वरो मे स्यादनुग्रहः॥

If there is any talk (of delivering me), or keeping me confined, you should communicate to me the decision arrived at.

Yuddha Kanda 34.11

साप्येवं ब्रुवतीं सीतां सरमा मृदुभाषिणी। उवाच वचनं तस्याः स्पृशन्ती बाष्पविक्लवम्।।१२

This is the highest favour that I seek (at hands). Thereat, the mild-speeched Saramā, wiping (Sītā's) face washed in tears, spoke to her, as she said this.

Yuddha Kanda 34.12

एष ते यद्यभिप्रायस्तस्माद्गच्छामि जानकि। गृह्य शत्रोरभिप्रायमुपावर्तामि मैथिलि॥

If this is your wish, I will go, O Jānaki. O Mithila's daughter, having possessed myself of the intent of the enemy, I shall come back.

Yuddha Kanda 34.13

एवमुक्त्वा ततो गत्वा समीपं तस्य रक्षसः। शुश्राव कथितं तस्य रावणस्य समन्त्रिणः॥

Having said this, (Saramā), repairing to the Raksasa, heard Raksa, heard Ravana's converse with his counsellors.

Yuddha Kanda 34.14

सा श्रुत्वा निश्चयं तस्य निश्चयज्ञा दुरात्मनः। पुनरेवागमत्क्षिप्रमशोकवनिका शुभाम्॥

Having heard of the decision of that wickedminded one, she, understanding decisions, swiftly retraced her steps to the fair Asoka forest.

Yuddha Kanda 34.15

सा प्रविष्टा ततस्तत्र ददर्श जनकात्मजाम्। प्रतीक्षमाणां स्वामेव भ्रष्टपद्मामिव श्रियम्॥

Then, entering there, she saw Janaka's daughter, expecting (her) like a very Sri,, bereft of her lotus.

Yuddha Kanda 34.16

तां तु साती पुनः प्राप्तां सरमां प्रियभाषिणीम्। परिष्वज्य च सुस्निग्धं ददौ च स्वयमासनम्।।१७

And, the fair-spoken Sarama, on getting back (near her), Sītā, embracing her affectionately, herself gave her a seat.

Yuddha Kanda 34.17

इहासीना सुखं सर्वमाख्याहि मम तत्त्वतः। क्रूरस्य निश्चयं तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः॥

Sitting down here at ease, do you relate to me faithfully all about the determination of the wicked-minded and guileful Ravana.

Yuddha Kanda 34.18

एवमुक्ता तु सरमा सीतया वेपमानया। कथितं सर्वमाचष्ट रावणस्य समन्त्रिणः॥

Thus accosted by the trembling Sītä, Saramā related everything that had been said by Råvaņa and his counsellors.

Yuddha Kanda 34.19

जनन्या राक्षसेन्द्रो वै त्वन्मोक्षार्थं बृहद्वचः। अतिस्निग्धेन वैदेहि मन्त्रिवृद्धेन चोदितः॥

O Vaidehi, the Rākşasa lord was advised by his mother and the aged counsellors in pregnant words informed with affection, having your deliverance for their object.

Yuddha Kanda 34.20

दीयतामभिसत्कृत्य मनुजेन्द्राय मैथिली। निदर्शनं ते पर्याप्त जनस्थाने यदद्भुतम्॥

Do you make over Maithili to the king of men, paying him homage due. You have in Janasthāna profusely witnessed wonderful instances (of his prowess).

Yuddha Kanda 34.21

लङ्घनं च समुद्रस्य दर्शनं च हनूमतः। वधं स रक्षसां युद्धे कः कुर्यान्मानुषो युधि ॥

The crossing of the ocean, Hanuman's sight (of Sītā) and the slaughter of the Rākşasa in fight, what person is capable of doing all this in battle?

Yuddha Kanda 34.22

एवं स मन्त्रिवृद्धैश्च मात्रा च बहु बोधितः। न त्वामुत्सहते मोक्तुमर्थमर्थपरो यथा॥

Thus long exhorted by his counsellors as well as his mother, Rāvaņa does not make up his mind to emancipate you, even as a covetous person is loath to pare with wealth (appropriated).

Yuddha Kanda 34.23

नोत्सहत्यमृतो मोक्तुं युद्धे त्वामिति मैथिलि। सामात्यस्य नृशंसस्य निश्चयो ह्येष वर्तते॥ तदेषां सुस्थिरा बुद्धिर्मृत्युलोभादुपस्थिता। भयान शक्तस्त्वां मोक्तुमनिरस्तः स संयुगे॥ राक्षसानां च सर्वेषामात्मनश्च वधेन हि।

O Maithili, without renouncing his life in battle, he does not intend to liberate you. Even this is the determination which that cruel one has arrived at along with his advisers. This intent is in consequence of their coveting surcease. He can not yield you up from sheer fear; not is he backward in battle, or shirk his own destruction or that of all the Rākşasas.

Yuddha Kanda 34.24

निहत्य रावणं संख्ये सर्वथा निशितैः शरैः। प्रतिनेष्यति रामस्त्वामयोध्यामसितेक्षणे॥

O dark-eyed lady slaying Rāvaņa in battle with sharp shafts, Rāma shall take the back to Ayodhyā.

Yuddha Kanda 34.25

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शब्दो भेरीशङ्खसमाकुलः। श्रुतो वै सर्वसैन्यानां कम्पयन्धरणीतलम्॥

In the meanwhile there was heard a mighty uproar occasioned by the whole host, and drums and conchs, which shook the earth.

Yuddha Kanda 34.26

श्रुत्वा तु तं वानरसैन्यनादं लङ्कागता राक्षसराजभृत्याः। हतौजसौ दैन्यपरीतचेष्टाः श्रेयो न पश्यन्ति नृपस्य दोषात्॥

Hearing that hubbub of the monkey-army, the servants of the Råkşasa monarch, ran who were in Lankā, growing dispirited, and bereft of energy, with weakness overcoming their powers, did not see any good, in consequence of the fault of the ruler.

Yuddha Kanda 34.27