Sloka & Translation

Audio

[Sita's wailings -- finaly finds some auspicious signs.]

sā rākṣasēndrasya vacō niśamya

tadrāvaṇasyāpriyamapriyārtā.

sītā vitatrāsa yathā vanāntē

siṅhābhipannā gajarājakanyā৷৷5.28.1৷৷


sā sītā that Sita, rākṣasēndrasya demon king's, rāvaṇasya Ravana's, apriyam unpleasant news, tat that, vacaḥ word, niśamya after hearing, apriyārtā restless, vanāntē in the midst of the forest, siṅhābhipannā caught by the lion, gajarājakanyā yathā like young calf of a lordly elephant, vitatrāsa frightened.

After hearing the unpleasant words spoken by the king of demons, which caused restlessness and sorrow to Sita, she was terrified like the young calf of a lordly elephant fallen into the clutches of a lion in the midst of the forest.
sā rākṣasīmadhyagatā ca bhīru

rvāgbhirbhṛśaṅ rāvaṇatarjitā ca.

kāntāramadhyē vijanē visṛṣṭā

bālēva kanyā vilalāpa sītā৷৷5.28.2৷৷


rākṣasīmadhyagatā encircled by the she-demons, bhīruḥ soft natured, bhṛśam excessively, vāgbhi: with words, rāvaṇatarjitā ca threatened by Ravana, sā that, sītā Sita, vijanē desolate, kāntāramadhyē in the midst of the forest, visṛṣṭā deserted, bālā young, kanyā iva like a girl, vilalāpa wept.

Encircled by the demonesses, Sita was repeatedly humiliated by Ravana's cruel words.
She wept like a young girl deserted in a desolate forest.
satyaṅ batēdaṅ pravadanti lōkē

nākālamṛtyurbhavatīti santaḥ.

yatrāhamēvaṅ paribhartsyamānā

jīvāmi dīnā kṣaṇamapyapuṇyā৷৷5.28.3৷৷


lōkē in the world, akālamṛtyuḥ untimely death, na bhavati does not occur, iti like this, idam thus, satyam true, santaḥ elders, pravadanti say, yatra wherever, ēvam this way, paribhartsyamānā being threatened, apuṇyā who lacks merits, aham I am, dīnā pitiable, kṣaṇamapi even a second also, jīvāmi I live, bata alas.

"Even though I am threatened like this, I am living pitiably because of lack of merit. Indeed I regret my survival due to my bad luck. Elders say that death will not ocurr before its time. It seems to be true.
sukhādvihīnaṅ bahuduḥkhapūrṇa-

midaṅ tu nūnaṅ hṛdayaṅ sthiraṅ mē.

viśīryatē yanna sahasradhā.dya

vajrāhataṅ śṛṅgamivācalasya৷৷5.28.4৷৷


sukhāt of joy, vihīnam devoid, bahuduḥkhapūrṇam filled with agony, idam this, mē my, hṛdayam heart, nūnam surely, sthiram hard, yat such, vajrāhatam hit by a thunderbolt, acalasya of a mountain, śṛṅgamiva like the top, sahasradhā into a thousand pieces, adya now, na viśīryatē it is not breaking.

"Even though I am devoid of joy, and living in deep agony, my heart bursts not into a thousand pieces like the summit of a mountain hit by thunderbolt (lightning).
naivāsti dōṣō mama nūnamatra vadhyāhamasyāpriyadarśanasya.

bhāvaṅ na cāsyāhamanupradātu malaṅ dvijō mantramivādvijāya৷৷5.28.5৷৷


atra mama here my, dōṣaḥ fault, naivāsti is not there, aham I am, apriyadarśanasya ugly, asya his, vadhyā to be killed, asmi I am, aham I, asya his, bhāvam (surrender) my heart, dvijaḥ brahmin, advijāya to a non-brahmin, mantramiva like the veda mantra, anupradātum to impart, na alam not proper.

"I will not be blamed if I commit suicide now.I stand condemned to death in the hands of this ugly Ravana. I cannot bestow my affection on him or surender to his desire like a brahmin would not like to impart Vedic knowledge to a non-brahmin. (Better die of my own accord than be killed by a sinful ogre).
nūnaṅ mamāṅgānyacirādanāryaḥ

śastraiśśitaiśchētsyati rākṣasēndraḥ.

tasminanāgacchati lōkanāthē

garbhasthajantōriva śalyakṛntaḥ৷৷5.28.6৷৷


lōkanāthē the lord of the world, tasmin he, anāgacchati before he comes here, anāryaḥ vile lord, rākṣasēndraḥ lord of demons, śalyakṛntaḥ barber, garbhasthajantōriva like the foetus from the womb, mama my, aṅgāni limbs, nūnam surely, śitaiḥ with sharp, śatrai: with weapons, chētsyati will cut into pieces.

"If the lord of the world does not come here before that (time fixed by Ravana) the vile lord of demons will cut me into pieces with weapons just as a barber would cut to pieces the foetus with a sharp knife (in order to save a pregnant woman).
duḥkhaṅ batēdaṅ mama duḥkhitāyā

māsau cirāyādhigamiṣyatō dvau.

baddhasya vadhyasya tathā niśāntē

rājāparādhādiva taskarasya৷৷5.28.7৷৷


rājāparādhāt due to offending the king, baddhasya captured, niśāntē by day-break, vadhyasya for execution, taskarasya iva like that of a thief, duḥkhitāyāḥ of a sorrowful, mama to me, dvau two, māsau months, cirāya is a long duration, adhigamiṣyataḥ will be spent, idam this, duḥkham grief, bata alas.

hā rāma hā lakṣmaṇa hā sumitrē

hā rāmamātaḥ saha mē jananyā.

ēṣā vipadyāmyahamalpabhāgyā

mahārṇavē nauriva mūḍhavātā৷৷5.28.8৷৷


hā rāma Alas! Rama, hā lakṣmaṇa Alas! Lakshmana, hā sumitrē Alas! Sumitra!, mē my, jananyā saha own mother, hā rāmamātaḥ Alas Rama's mother, alpabhāgyā an ill-starred woman, ēṣā here, aham I, mahārṇavē in an ocean, mūḍhavātā by a whirl-wind, nauriva like a boat, vipadyāmi I am perished.

tarasvinau dhārayatā mṛgasya

sattvēna rūpaṅ manujēndraputrau.

nūnaṅ viśastau mama kāraṇāttau

siṅharṣabhau dvāviva vaidyutēna৷৷5.28.9৷৷


mṛgasya deer's, rūpam form, dhārayatā by taking, sattvēna by a creature, tarasvinau these pair of , tau two, manujēndraputrau princes, vaidyutēna by bolt of lightning, dvau two, siṅharṣabhau iva two mighty lions, mama kāraṇāt on my account, nūnam verily, viśastau are slain.

"Just like two mighty lions are killed by a bolt of lightning, the two princes must have been killed by a creature in the guise of a deer on my account.
nūnaṅ sa kālō mṛgarūpadhārī

māmalpabhāgyāṅ lulubhē tadānīm.

yatrāryaputraṅ visasarja mūḍhā

rāmānujaṅ lakṣmaṇapūrvajaṅ ca৷৷5.28.10৷৷


nūnam verily, saḥ such, kālaḥ the spirit of time, mṛgarūpadhārī in the guise of a deer, tadānīm then, alpabhāgyām an unfortunate woman, mām me, lulubhē tempted, yatra wherever, mūḍhā foolish, rāmānujam Rama's brother, lakṣmaṇapūrvajam Lakshmana's elder brother, āryaputraṅ ca son of a noble king, visasarja sent away.

"Verily, it is the spirit of the time that assumed the form of deer and tempted this unfortunate soul. It was foolish of me to send away, the sons of a noble king, Lakshmana and his elder brother.
hā rāma satyavrata dīrghabāhō

hā pūrṇacandrapratimānavaktra.

hā jīvalōkasya hitaḥ priyaśca

vadhyāṅ na māṅ vētsi hi rākṣasānām৷৷5.28.11৷৷


satyavrata O unfailing in vows, dīrghabāhō O long-armed one, hā rāma Alas! Rama, hā pūrṇacandrapratimānavaktra alas! one whose face is like the full moon, hā alas, jīvalōkasya for all the worlds, hitaḥ benefactor, priyaśca dear one, mām me, rākṣasānām for demons, vadhyām to be
killed, na vētsi you are not aware.

ananya daivatvamiyaṅ kṣamā ca

bhūmau ca śayyā niyamaśca dharmē.

pativratātvaṅ viphalaṅ mamēdaṅ

kṛtaṅ kṛtaghnēṣviva mānuṣāṇām৷৷5.28.12৷৷


ananyadaivatvam no god other than you, iyam this, kṣamā ca and tolerance, bhūmau on earth, śayyā sleep, dharmē in righteousness, niyamaśca discipline, pativratātvam my chastity, mama my, idam this, kṛtaghnēṣu in case of ungrateful man, mānuṣāṇām of human beings, kṛtamiva like the help done, viphalam is futile.

"I am devoted to you and to no other god. My hardship in sleeping on the ground, my righteousness, my discipline and chastity have all proved futile like the devotion of an ungrateful person.
mōghō hi dharmaścaritō mayāyaṅ

tathaikapatnītvāmidaṅ nirartham.

yā tvāṅ na paśyāmi kṛśā vivarṇā

hīnā tvayā saṅgamanē nirāśā৷৷5.28.13৷৷


yā I who, tvām you, na paśyāmi I do not see, tvayā by you, hīnā deprived, saṅgamanē in reuniting, nirāśā no hope, kṛśā shrunk, vivarṇā pale, mayā by me, caritaḥ followed, ayam this, dharmaḥ righteousness, mōghaḥ hi is in vain, tathā likewise, idam this, ēkapantītvam devotion to you alone, nirartham meaningless.

"This righteousnes practised by me is in vain like my devotion to you, as I am unable to see you. I am a separated, emaciated, pale with no hope of reuniting with you.
piturnidēśaṅ niyamēna kṛtvā vanānnivṛttaścaritavrataśca.

strībhistu manyē vipulēkṣaṇābhistvaṅ raṅsyasē vītabhayaḥ kṛtārthaḥ৷৷5.28.14৷৷


tvam you, pituḥ father's, nidēśam command, niyamēna truly, kṛtvā following, caritavrataśca after the completion of the pledge, vanāt from the forest, nivṛttaḥ you return, vītabhayaḥ rid of fear, kṛtārthaḥ an accomplished one, vipulēkṣaṇābhiḥ large-eyed, strībhiḥ with damsels, raṅsyasē be revelling, manyē I think.

"Having truly fulfilled your pledge given to your father, you will return from the forest to Ayodhya, rid of all fear, as an accomplished person, will and revel in the company of large-eyed damsels, I think.
ahaṅ tu rāma tvayi jātakāmā

ciraṅ vināśāya nibaddhabhāvā.

mōghaṅ caritvātha tapō vratañca tyakṣyāmi

dhigjīvitamalpabhāgyām৷৷5.28.15৷৷


rāma Rama, tvayi at you, jātakāmā I loved, ahaṅ tu I am also, vināśāya for my doom, ciram for long, nibaddhabhāvā with my feeling of love fixed on you, tapaḥ austerities, vrataṅ ca and vows, mōgham in vain, caritvātha after practising, jīvitam life, tyakṣyāmi will be giving up, alpabhāgyām I am unfortunate one, dhik what a pity!

"O Rama!I loved you and concentrated all my love on you for a long time only for my doom. I have observed vows and austerities in vain. I cannot continue it for long. Here I am giving up my life. Fie upon this luckless one (me).
sā jīvitaṅ kṣipramahaṅ tyajēyaṅ

viṣēṇa śastrēṇa śitēna vāpi.

viṣasya dātā na hi mē.sti kaści

cchastrasya vā vēśmani rākṣasasya৷৷5.28.16৷৷


sā aham that I, kṣipram at once, jīvitam life, viṣēṇa by poisoning, śitēna by a sharp one, śastrēṇa by a weapon, vāpi or else, tyajēyam I give up, rākṣasasya demon's, vēśmani at his residence, mē to me, viṣasya of poison, śastrasya vā or of weapon, dātā donor, kaścit any one, nāsti is not found.

"I will end my life at once by taking poison or else by a sharp weapon. Alas! There is none to give get me poison or a weapon at this demon's residence".
itīva dēvī bahudhā vilapya

sarvātmanā rāmamanusmarantī.

pravēpamānā pariśuṣkavaktrā

nagōttamaṅ puṣpitamāsasāda৷৷5.28.17৷৷


dēvī queen, itīva in that way, bahudhā in many ways, vilapya wailing, sarvātmanā self of all, rāmam Rama, anusmarantī constantly remembering, pravēpamānā shivering, pariśuṣkavaktrā pale face, puṣpitam in bloom, nagōttamam great tree, āsasāda approached.

Queen Sita was wailing in many ways, constantly remembering Rama, the soul of all. Shivering, her face pales as she approached the great Simsupa tree in bloom.
sā śōkataptā bahudhā vicintya

sītā.tha vēṇyudgrathanaṅ gṛhītvā.

udbudhya vēṇyudgrathanēna śīghramahaṅ

gamiṣyāmi yamasya mūlam৷৷5.28.18৷৷


śōkābhitaptā burning with grief, sītā Sita, bahudhā in many ways, vicintya after worrying, atha then, vēṇyudgrathanam braid of her hair, gṛhītvā holding, aham I, vēṇyudgrathanēna by the braid, udbudhya tie, śīghram quickly, yamasya lord of death's, mūlam presence, gamiṣyāmi I will reach.

"Burning in grief, worrying in many ways, Sita took hold of her braid and said", by tying myself with this braid I shall quickly reach the presence of the lord of death".
upasthitā sā mṛdusarvagātrī

śākhāṅ gṛhatvā.dha nagasya tasya.

tasyāstu rāmaṅ pravicintayantyā

rāmānujaṅ svaṅ ca kulaṅ śubhāṅgyā:৷৷5.28.19৷৷

śēkānimittāni tathā bahūni

dhairyārjitāni pravarāṇi lōkē.

prādurnimittāni tadā babhūvuḥ

purāpi siddhānyupalakṣitāni৷৷5.28.20৷৷


atha and then, mṛdasarvagātrī lady of delicate limbs, sā she, tasya of that, nagasya tree's, śākhām branch, gṛhītvā holding, upasthitā stood, rāmam Rama, rāmānujam Rama's brother, svaṅ kulaṅ ca and their family, pravicintayantyā: was thinking, śubhāṅgyāḥ of charming body, tasyāḥ tu her, tadā then, śōkānimittāni dispellers of sorrow, dhairyārjitāni harbingers of courage, lōkē in the world, pravarāṇi foremost, tathā similarly, purāpi ancient times also, siddhāni results, upalakṣitāni been proven, bahūni many, nimittāni omens, prādurbhabhūvuḥ manifested.

Sita of delicate limbs approached the Simsupa tree and held on to a branch and stood. While she was thinking of Rama and Lakshmana and their noble family many omens of proven results appeared on her auspicious charming body. These omens were dispellers of grief, and harbingers of courage in the world as declared from
ancient times. (Now) they manifested themselves.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē aṣṭāviṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the twentyeigth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.