Sundara Kanda, Sarga 26

प्रसक्ताश्रुमुखीत्यवं ब्रुवन्ती जनकात्मजा। आधोगतमुखी बाला विलप्तुमुपचक्रमे।।5.26.1।।

prasaktāśrumukhītyavaṃ bruvantī janakātmajā| ādhogatamukhī bālā vilaptumupacakrame

The young daughter of king Janaka thus speaking, began to cry, her face bent down.

उन्मत्तेव प्रमत्तेव भ्रान्तचित्तेव शोचती। उपावृत्ता किशोरीव विवेष्टन्ती महीतले।।5.26.2।।

unmatteva pramatteva bhrāntacitteva śocatī| upāvṛttā kiśorīva viveṣṭantī mahītale

Bewildered or distracted or intoxicated, this young lady wailed, wallowing round on the ground like a young female horse:

राघवस्य प्रमत्तस्य रक्षसा कामरूपिणा। रावणेन प्रमथ्याहमानीता क्रोशती बलात्।।5.26.3।।

rāghavasya pramattasya rakṣasā kāmarūpiṇā| rāvaṇena pramathyāhamānītā krośatī balāt

When Rama was engaged (in deer hunt) and I was screaming, I was brought forcibly by Ravana who can assume any form at his will.

राक्षसीवशमापन्ना भर्त्स्यमाना सुदारुणम्। चिन्तयन्ती सुदुःखार्ता नाहं जीवितुमुत्सुहे।।5.26.4।।

rākṣasīvaśamāpannā bhartsyamānā sudāruṇam| cintayantī suduḥkhārtā nāhaṃ jīvitumutsuhe

"Having fallen under the clutches of the dreadful demonesses and threatened by them, I am so full of woes and worries that I don't want to live.

न हि मे जीवितेनार्थो नैवार्थेर्न च भूषणैः। वसन्त्या राक्षसीमध्ये विना रामं महारथम्।।5.26.5।।

na hi me jīvitenārtho naivārtherna ca bhūṣaṇaiḥ| vasantyā rākṣasīmadhye vinā rāmaṃ mahāratham

"In the absence of the great charioteer Rama, of what use is my living in the midst of ogresses? I need no wealth, no ornaments.

अश्मसारमिदं नूनमथवाप्यजरामरम्। हृदयं मम येनेदं न दुःखेनावशीर्यते।।5.26.6।।

aśmasāramidaṃ nūnamathavāpyajarāmaram| hṛdayaṃ mama yenedaṃ na duḥkhenāvaśīryate

"It may be, that my heart is made of stone or it has no age or death since it does not riven even with grief.

धिङ्मामनार्यामसतीं याहं तेना विना कृता। मुहूर्तमपि रक्षामि जीवितं पापजीविता।।5.26.7।।

dhiṅmāmanāryāmasatīṃ yāhaṃ tenā vinā kṛtā| muhūrtamapi rakṣāmi jīvitaṃ pāpajīvitā

"I am preserving this sinful life like this though separated from Rama. Fie on me, for this wretched, infidel life

का च मे जीविते श्रद्धा सुखे वा तं प्रियं विना। भर्तारं सागरान्ताया वसुधायाः प्रियंवदम्।।5.26.8।।

kā ca me jīvite śraddhā sukhe vā taṃ priyaṃ vinā| bhartāraṃ sāgarāntāyā vasudhāyāḥ priyaṃvadam

"How can I have interest in any kind of pleasure without my sweettongued husband, the lord of the whole earth extending up to the ocean.

भिद्यतां भक्ष्यतां वापि शरीरं विसृजाम्यहम्। न चाप्यहं चिरं दुःखं सहेयं प्रियवर्जिता।।5.26.9।।

bhidyatāṃ bhakṣyatāṃ vāpi śarīraṃ visṛjāmyaham| na cāpyahaṃ ciraṃ duḥkhaṃ saheyaṃ priyavarjitā

"I will give up my body. Break me into pieces or eat me up. I cannot bear the sorrow of separation from my dear Rama any longer.

चरणेनापि सव्येन न स्पृशेयं निशाचरम्। रावणं किं पुनरहं काममेयं विगर्हितम्।।5.26.10।।

caraṇenāpi savyena na spṛśeyaṃ niśācaram| rāvaṇaṃ kiṃ punarahaṃ kāmameyaṃ vigarhitam

"I will not even touch that vile nightranger Ravana with my left foot. What to speak of loving him.

प्रत्याख्यातं न जानाति नात्मानं नात्मनः कुलम्। यो नृशंसस्वभावेन मां प्रार्थयितुमिच्छति।।5.26.11।।

pratyākhyātaṃ na jānāti nātmānaṃ nātmanaḥ kulam| yo nṛśaṃsasvabhāvena māṃ prārthayitumicchati

'As Ravana has no heart, he pleads to gain me. He is aware of neither his own self nor his family.

छिन्ना भिन्ना विभक्ता वा दीप्तेवाग्नौ प्रदीपिता। रावणं नोपतिष्ठेयं किं प्रलापेन वश्चिरम्।।5.26.12।।

chinnā bhinnā vibhaktā vā dīptevāgnau pradīpitā| rāvaṇaṃ nopatiṣṭheyaṃ kiṃ pralāpena vaściram

"Even if I am cut, broken to pieces or burnt in glowing fire, I will not accept Ravana. Why do you shout for so long?

ख्यातः प्राज्ञः कृतज्ञश्च सानुक्रोशश्च राघवः। सद्वृत्तो निरनुक्रोशश्शङ्के मद्भाग्यसङ्क्षयात्।।5.26.13।।

khyātaḥ prājñaḥ kṛtajñaśca sānukrośaśca rāghavaḥ| sadvṛtto niranukrośaśśaṅke madbhāgyasaṅkṣayāt

"Rama is renowned, wise, grateful and kindly. It is due to my misfortune that he has turned pitiless to me. There is no doubt.

राक्षसानां सहस्राणि जनस्थाने चतुर्दश। येनैकेन निरस्तानि स मां किं नाभिपद्यते।।5.26.14।।

rākṣasānāṃ sahasrāṇi janasthāne caturdaśa| yenaikena nirastāni sa māṃ kiṃ nābhipadyate

"He who destroyed fourteen thousand demons singlehanded has not come to protect me. I do not know why.

निरुद्धा रावणेनाहमल्पवीर्येण रक्षसा। समर्थः खलु मे भर्ता रावणं हन्तुमाहवे।।5.26.15।।

niruddhā rāvaṇenāhamalpavīryeṇa rakṣasā| samarthaḥ khalu me bhartā rāvaṇaṃ hantumāhave

"Rama, my husband, for sure, is capable of killing in battle this Ravana who has held me captive and who is a demon of inferior valour.

विराधो दण्डकारण्ये येन राक्षसपुङ्गवः। रणे रामेण निहतस्स मां किं नाभिपद्यते।।5.26.16।।

virādho daṇḍakāraṇye yena rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ| raṇe rāmeṇa nihatassa māṃ kiṃ nābhipadyate

"Why is Rama who killed Viradha, a bull among demons, in Dandaka forest in the fight not coming to rescue me?

कामं मध्ये समुद्रस्य लङ्केयं दुष्प्रधर्षणा। न तु राघवबाणानां गतिरोधो भविष्यति ।।5.26.17।।

kāmaṃ madhye samudrasya laṅkeyaṃ duṣpradharṣaṇā| na tu rāghavabāṇānāṃ gatirodho bhaviṣyati

"This Lanka in the middle of the ocean is unassailable. But there is nothing which can resist the arrows of Rama.

किन्नु तत्कारणं येन रामो दृढपराक्रमः। रक्षसापहृतां भार्यामिष्टां नाभ्यवपद्यते।।5.26.18।।

kinnu tatkāraṇaṃ yena rāmo dṛḍhaparākramaḥ| rakṣasāpahṛtāṃ bhāryāmiṣṭāṃ nābhyavapadyate

"What may be the reason that my loving husband, Rama who is highly powerful has not reached this place to which I was abducted by the demon.

इहस्थां मां न जानीते शङ्के लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः। जानन्नपि हि तेजस्वी धर्षणं मर्षयिष्यति।।5.26.19।।

ihasthāṃ māṃ na jānīte śaṅke lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ| jānannapi hi tejasvī dharṣaṇaṃ marṣayiṣyati

"The elder brother of Lakshamana does not know that I am here. Or, I'm afraid, the glorious Rama knows and yet tolerates such an outrageous act.

हृतेति योऽधिगत्वा मां राघवाय निवेदयेत्। गृध्रराजोऽपि स रणे रावणेन निपातितः।।5.26.20।।

hṛteti yo'dhigatvā māṃ rāghavāya nivedayet| gṛdhrarājo'pi sa raṇe rāvaṇena nipātitaḥ

"Even the king of vultures knows I was borne away. He could have informed Rama. But he has also been thrashed down on the earth by Ravana in the fight.

कृतं कर्म महत्तेन मां तथाऽभ्यवपद्यता। तिष्ठता रावणद्वन्द्वे वृद्धेनापि जटायुषा।।5.26.21।।

kṛtaṃ karma mahattena māṃ tathā'bhyavapadyatā| tiṣṭhatā rāvaṇadvandve vṛddhenāpi jaṭāyuṣā

"Though old, Jatayu did a great help to me by resisting Ravana in the duel and advancing (to confront him.).

यदि मामिह जानीयाद्वर्तमानां स राघवः। अद्य बाणैरभिक्रुद्धः कुर्याल्लोकमराक्षसम्।।5.26.22।।

yadi māmiha jānīyādvartamānāṃ sa rāghavaḥ| adya bāṇairabhikruddhaḥ kuryāllokamarākṣasam

"Had only Raghava known that I was here he would have freed this world of demons with his anger.

विधमेच्च पुरीं लङ्कां शोषयेच्च महोदधिम्। रावणस्य च नीचस्य कीर्तिं नाम च नाशयेत्।।5.26.23।।

vidhamecca purīṃ laṅkāṃ śoṣayecca mahodadhim| rāvaṇasya ca nīcasya kīrtiṃ nāma ca nāśayet

"Had Rama known that I am in Lanka he would have blown up this city, dried up the ocean and destroyed the name and fame of the mean Ravana.

ततो निहतनाथानां राक्षसीनां गृहे गृहे। यथाहमेवं रुदती तथा भूयो न संशयः।।5.26.24।।

tato nihatanāthānāṃ rākṣasīnāṃ gṛhe gṛhe| yathāhamevaṃ rudatī tathā bhūyo na saṃśayaḥ

"Like me weeping, the cry of ogresses with lost husbands will be heard in every house in Lanka. There is no doubt.

अन्विष्य रक्षसां लङ्कां कुर्याद्रामस्सलक्ष्मणः। न हि ताभ्यां रिपुर्दृष्टो मुहूर्तमपि जीवति।।5.26.25।।

anviṣya rakṣasāṃ laṅkāṃ kuryādrāmassalakṣmaṇaḥ| na hi tābhyāṃ ripurdṛṣṭo muhūrtamapi jīvati

"If only Lakshmana and Rama in their quest for Lanka reach here, it is not possible within their sight for the enemy to survive even a moment.

चिताधूमाकुलपथा गृध्रमण्डलसङ्कुला। अचिरेण तु लङ्केयं श्मशानसदृशी भवेत्।।5.26.26।।

citādhūmākulapathā gṛdhramaṇḍalasaṅkulā| acireṇa tu laṅkeyaṃ śmaśānasadṛśī bhavet

"Very soon this Lanka will be enveloped with smoke from funeral pyres and thronged with flocks of vultures moving in circles. It will be like a burial ground.

अचिरेणैव कालेन प्राप्स्याम्येव मनोरथम्। दुष्प्रस्थानोऽयामाख्याति सर्वेषां वो विपर्ययम्।।5.26.27।।

acireṇaiva kālena prāpsyāmyeva manoratham| duṣprasthāno'yāmākhyāti sarveṣāṃ vo viparyayam

"Your bad behaviour forebodes illluck for you.I shall have my desire fulfilled in a short time.

यादृशानीह दृश्यन्ते लङ्कायामशुभानि वै। अचिरेणैव कालेन भविष्यति हतप्रभा।।5.26.28।।

yādṛśānīha dṛśyante laṅkāyāmaśubhāni vai| acireṇaiva kālena bhaviṣyati hataprabhā

"Inauspicious signs are seen here in Lanka. In a short time this city will lose its splendour.

नूनं लङ्का हते पापे रावणे राक्षसाधमे। शोषं यास्यति दुर्धर्षा प्रमदा विधवा यथा।।5.26.29।।

nūnaṃ laṅkā hate pāpe rāvaṇe rākṣasādhame| śoṣaṃ yāsyati durdharṣā pramadā vidhavā yathā

"Surely this impregnable Lanka will wither up (lose its splendour) and appear like a widow when this sinful Ravana, a mean demon is killed.

पुण्योत्सवसमुत्था च नष्टभर्त्री सराक्षसी। भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का नष्टभर्त्री यथाङ्गना।।5.26.30।।

puṇyotsavasamutthā ca naṣṭabhartrī sarākṣasī| bhaviṣyati purī laṅkā naṣṭabhartrī yathāṅganā

"This city of Lanka with many auspicious celebrations will lose its king and all mean ogresses will remain like widows.

नूनं राक्षसकन्यानां रुदन्तीनां गृहे गृहे। श्रोष्यामि नचिरादेव दुःखार्तानामिह ध्वनिम्।।5.26.31।।

nūnaṃ rākṣasakanyānāṃ rudantīnāṃ gṛhe gṛhe| śroṣyāmi nacirādeva duḥkhārtānāmiha dhvanim

"I shall surely hear very soon sounds of distressful cry of young ogresses in every household.

सान्थकारा हतद्योता हतराक्षसपुङ्गवा। भविष्यति पुरी लङ्का निर्दग्धा रामसायकैः।।5.26.32।।

sānthakārā hatadyotā hatarākṣasapuṅgavā| bhaviṣyati purī laṅkā nirdagdhā rāmasāyakaiḥ

"Totally burnt by Rama's arrows, this Lanka will be filled with darkness, and its splendour lost and preeminent demons destroyed.

यदि नाम स शूरो मां रामो रक्तान्तलोचनः। जानीयाद्वर्तमानां हि रावणस्य निवेशने।।5.26.33।। अनेन तु नृशंसेन रावणेनाधमेन मे। समयो यस्तु निर्दिष्टस्तस्य कालोऽयमागतः।।5.26.34।। स च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुष्टे न वर्तते।

yadi nāma sa śūro māṃ rāmo raktāntalocanaḥ| jānīyādvartamānāṃ hi rāvaṇasya niveśane anena tu nṛśaṃsena rāvaṇenādhamena me| samayo yastu nirdiṣṭastasya kālo'yamāgataḥ sa ca me vihito mṛtyurasmin duṣṭe na vartate|

"If the heroic Rama of bloodshot eyes comes to know that I am here at Ravana's, the expiry of time limit fixed by this cruel, lowly, foolish Ravana has arrived, this wicked fellow's death is inevitable.

यदि नाम स शूरो मां रामो रक्तान्तलोचनः। जानीयाद्वर्तमानां हि रावणस्य निवेशने।।5.26.33।। अनेन तु नृशंसेन रावणेनाधमेन मे। समयो यस्तु निर्दिष्टस्तस्य कालोऽयमागतः।।5.26.34।। स च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुष्टे न वर्तते।

yadi nāma sa śūro māṃ rāmo raktāntalocanaḥ| jānīyādvartamānāṃ hi rāvaṇasya niveśane anena tu nṛśaṃsena rāvaṇenādhamena me| samayo yastu nirdiṣṭastasya kālo'yamāgataḥ sa ca me vihito mṛtyurasmin duṣṭe na vartate|

"If the heroic Rama of bloodshot eyes comes to know that I am here at Ravana's, the expiry of time limit fixed by this cruel, lowly, foolish Ravana has arrived, this wicked fellow's death is inevitable.

अकार्यं ये न जानन्ति नैर्ऋताः पापकारिणः।।5.26.35।। अधर्मात्तु महोत्पातो भविष्यति हि सांप्रतम्। नैते धर्मं विजानन्ति राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।5.26.36।।

akāryaṃ ye na jānanti nairṛtāḥ pāpakāriṇaḥ adharmāttu mahotpāto bhaviṣyati hi sāṃpratam| naite dharmaṃ vijānanti rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ

Nothing is forbidden for sinful demons. A calamity will befall now due to this adharma. The flesheating ogres are aware of neither dharma nor adharma.

अकार्यं ये न जानन्ति नैर्ऋताः पापकारिणः।।5.26.35।। अधर्मात्तु महोत्पातो भविष्यति हि सांप्रतम्। नैते धर्मं विजानन्ति राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।5.26.36।।

akāryaṃ ye na jānanti nairṛtāḥ pāpakāriṇaḥ adharmāttu mahotpāto bhaviṣyati hi sāṃpratam| naite dharmaṃ vijānanti rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ

Nothing is forbidden for sinful demons. A calamity will befall now due to this adharma. The flesheating ogres are aware of neither dharma nor adharma.

ध्रुवं मां प्रातराशार्थे राक्षसः कल्पयिष्यति। साहं कथं करिष्यामि तं विना प्रियदर्शनम्।।5.26.37।। रामं रक्तान्तनयनमपश्यन्ती सुदुःखिता।

dhruvaṃ māṃ prātarāśārthe rākṣasaḥ kalpayiṣyati| sāhaṃ kathaṃ kariṣyāmi taṃ vinā priyadarśanam rāmaṃ raktāntanayanamapaśyantī suduḥkhitā|

"This demon is determined to make me his morning meal. How can I do anything in the absence of my lord of pleasing countenance. I am distressed very much by not seeing Rama, possessed of eyes with a reddish tinge in the corners.

यदि कश्चित् प्रदाता मे विषस्याद्य भवेदिह।।5.27.38।। क्षिप्रं वैवस्वतं देवं पश्येयं पतिना विना।

yadi kaścit pradātā me viṣasyādya bhavediha kṣipraṃ vaivasvataṃ devaṃ paśyeyaṃ patinā vinā|

"If I can find some one who can give me poison now I shall soon see the lord of death without my lord.

नाजानाज्जीवतीं रामस्स मां लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।।5.26.39।। जानन्तौ तौ न कुर्यातां नोर्य्वां हि मम मार्गणम्।

nājānājjīvatīṃ rāmassa māṃ lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ jānantau tau na kuryātāṃ noryvāṃ hi mama mārgaṇam|

"Neither Lakshmana nor his elder brother knows that I am here alive. (Had they known) both of them would have ransacked this earth.

नूनं ममैव शोकेन स वीरो लक्ष्मणाग्रजः।।5.26.40।। देवलोकमितो यातस्त्यक्त्वा देहं महीतले।

nūnaṃ mamaiva śokena sa vīro lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ devalokamito yātastyaktvā dehaṃ mahītale|

"Would it be that the heroic elder brother of Lakshmana has gone to the abode of gods unable to find me on this earth?

धन्या देवास्सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः।।5.26.41।। मम पश्यन्ति ये नाथं रामं राजीवलोचनम्।

dhanyā devāssagandharvāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ mama paśyanti ye nāthaṃ rāmaṃ rājīvalocanam|

"Blessed are the gods, gandharvas, and siddhas and great sages who are able to see my lotuseyed lord Rama.

अथवा न हि तस्यार्थो धर्मकामस्य धीमतः।।5.26.42।। मया रामस्य राजर्षेर्भार्यया परमात्मनः।

athavā na hi tasyārtho dharmakāmasya dhīmataḥ mayā rāmasya rājarṣerbhāryayā paramātmanaḥ|

Or that royal sage, wise Rama who always seeks dharma having become one with the supreme spirit has no longer any interest in me?

दृश्यमाने भवेत्प्रीति स्सौहृदं नास्त्यपश्यतः।।5.26.43।। नाशयन्ति कृतघ्नास्तु न रामो नाशयिष्यति।

dṛśyamāne bhavetprīti ssauhṛdaṃ nāstyapaśyataḥ nāśayanti kṛtaghnāstu na rāmo nāśayiṣyati|

"Love attaches itself to one who remains before one's eyes.Friendship fades with separation. The ungrateful destroy love and friendship (as their love is conditioned by frequent meetings). But it cannot happen in case of Rama.

किं नु मे न गुणाः केचित्किं वा भाग्यक्षयो मम।।5.26.44।। याहं सीदामि रामेण हीना मुख्येन भामिनी।

kiṃ nu me na guṇāḥ kecitkiṃ vā bhāgyakṣayo mama yāhaṃ sīdāmi rāmeṇa hīnā mukhyena bhāminī|

"Do I, a charming lady, not have any good fortune because of my past deeds? I wonder how a foremost woman like me seperated from my husband is sinking in grief without Rama. Has my fortune diminished?

श्रेयो मे जीवितान्मर्तुं विहीनाया महात्मनः।।5.26.45।। रामादक्लिष्टचारित्राच्छूराच्छत्रुनिबर्हणात्।

śreyo me jīvitānmartuṃ vihīnāyā mahātmanaḥ rāmādakliṣṭacāritrācchūrācchatrunibarhaṇāt|

Instead of living separated from noble and brave Rama, a blemishless character and a destroyer of enemies, it is better for me to die.

अथवा न्यस्तशत्रौ तौ वने मूलफलाशिनौ।।5.26.46।। भ्रातरौ हि नरश्रेष्ठौ संवृत्तौ वनगोचरौ।

athavā nyastaśatrau tau vane mūlaphalāśinau bhrātarau hi naraśreṣṭhau saṃvṛttau vanagocarau|

"May be both the brothers, foremost among men, have laid down their arms, and taken to asceticism, subsisting on roots and fruits.

अथवा राक्षसेन्द्रेण रावणेन दुरात्मना।।5.26.47।। छद्मना घातितौ शूरौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।

athavā rākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena durātmanā chadmanā ghātitau śūrau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau|

"Or else, has this wicked demon king slain both the brothers Rama and Lakshmana by some deceptive means?

साऽहमेवङ्गते काले मर्तुमिच्छामि सर्वथा।।5.26.48।। न च मे विहितो मृत्युरस्मिन् दुःखेऽपि वर्तते।

sā'hamevaṅgate kāle martumicchāmi sarvathā na ca me vihito mṛtyurasmin duḥkhe'pi vartate|

"By all means I wish to die in these circumstances. However, death is not ordained for me even in this sorrowful state.

धन्याः खलु महात्मानो मुनयस्त्यक्तकिल्बिषाः।।5.26.49।। जितात्मनो महाभागा येषां न स्तः प्रियाप्रिये।

dhanyāḥ khalu mahātmāno munayastyaktakilbiṣāḥ jitātmano mahābhāgā yeṣāṃ na staḥ priyāpriye|

Blessed are the exhalted sages who have not committed any sin. They have self control and have subdued their senses. There is no pleasure or displeasure for them.

प्रियान्न संभवेद्दुःखमप्रियादधिकं भयम्।।5.26.50।। ताभ्यां हि ये वियुज्यन्ते नमस्तेषां महात्मनाम्।

priyānna saṃbhavedduḥkhamapriyādadhikaṃ bhayam tābhyāṃ hi ye viyujyante namasteṣāṃ mahātmanām|

"Salutations to those exalted souls who have distanced themselves from pleasure and displeasure. Pleasures may not lead to suffering or displeasure to excessive, meaningless fear for such great souls.

साहं त्यक्ता प्रियार्हेण रामेण विदितात्मना।।5.26.51।। प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि पापस्य रावणस्य गता वशम्।

sāhaṃ tyaktā priyārheṇa rāmeṇa viditātmanā prāṇāṃstyakṣyāmi pāpasya rāvaṇasya gatā vaśam|

"Separated from the wise Rama who deserves pleasant things I will give up life being under the clutches of the sinful Ravana. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे षडिवंश स्सर्गः। Thus ends the twentysixth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.