“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48

Trijata Assures that will Survive

Summary

Seetha, on beholding Rama and , was absorbed in various thoughts like, "The sooth [true] sayers had prophesied [predicted] that I should never be widowed and would bear sons. How could their prediction become untrue?" However, Trijata reassures her, stating good reasons for Rama and Lakshmana to be still alive and cheering her up, takes her back to Ashoka grove.

Chapter [Sarga] 48 in Detail

bhartaaram nihatam dristvaa laksmanam ca mahaa balam |

vilalaapa bhrisham siitaa karunam shoka karshitaa || 6-48-1

Seeing her husband and the mighty Lakshmana having been killed, Seetha was very much emaciated [meager] through grief and lamented [mourned] pitiably (as follows):

uucur laksanikaa ye maam putriny avidhavaa iti ca |

te asya sarve hate raame ajnaanino anrita vaadinah || 6-48-2

"The sooth sayers, reading the marks and signs on my body, prophesized that I shall bear sons and never be widowed. Now that Rama has been slain, their words have proved to be untrue."

yajvano mahisiim ye maam uucuh patniim ca satrinah |

te adya sarve hate raame ajnaanino anrita vaadinah || 6-48-3

"Since Rama is slain, all those astrologers, who predicted that I should be the companion of a Sattra sacrifice and the consort of the performer of great sacrifices, now have proved to be utters of falsehood."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48 viira paarthiva patnii tvam ye dhanyaa iti ca maam viduh |

te adya sarve hate raame ajnaanino anrita vaadinah || 6-48-4

"Now that Rama has been slain, all those sooth-sayers who predicted that I should be honored by my husband as well as the wives of warriors and kings, are proved to be liars."

uucuH samshravaNe ye maam dvijaah kaartaantikaah shubhaam |

te adya sarve hate raame ajnaanino anRita vaadinaH || 6-48-5

"Now that Rama has been slain, all those astrologers among the wise Brahmins. Who openly foretold that I should remain happy with my husband are proved to have spoken falsely!"

imaani khalu padmaani paadayor yaih kila striyah |

adhiraajye abhisicyante nara indraih patibhih saha || 6-48-6

"Yet I bear the marks of lotus on my soles by virtue of which high-born women are consecrated on an imperial throne with their husbands and lords."

vaidhavyam yaanti yair naaryo alaksanair bhaagya durlabhaah |

na aatmanas taani pashyaami pashyantii hata laksanaa || 6-48-7

"I do not find those marks of ill-fortune which betoken widowhood in women who are ill- starred and as I examine, all the auspicious signs appear to be rendered void for me."

satyaani imaani padmaani striinaam uktvaani laksane |

taany adya nihate raame vitathaani bhavanti me || 6-48-8

"Those marks of the lotus said to be good augury [omen] for women by wise men, have become meaningless, now that Rama is slain."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48 keshaah suuksmaah samaa niilaa bhruvau ca asamgate mama |

vritte ca alomashe janghe dantaash ca aviralaa mama || 6-48-9

"My hair is fine, black in color and smooth. My eye-brows are disunited. My shanks are hair-less and well rounded. My teeth are contiguous, without any gaps between them."

shankhe netre karau paadau gulphaav uuruu ca me citau |

anuvrittaa nakhaah snigdhaah samaash ca angulayo mama || 6-48-10

"My temples, eyes, arms, feet, ankles and tights are homogenous and well-proportioned. My fingers have well-rounded and glossy nails, having a right length."

stanau ca aviralau piinau mama imau magna cuucukau |

magnaa ca utsanginii naabhih paarshva uraskam ca me citam || 6-48-11

"My breasts are close to each other, fully developed and have depressed nipples. My navel is deeply indented. My flanks and bosom are well-formed."

mama varno mani nibho mriduuny anga ruhaani ca |

pratisthitaam dvadashabhir maam uucuh shubha laksanaam || 6-48-12

"My complexion has the sheen of a pearl. The hair on my skin are soft. It is said of me as endowed with auspicious signs, in that I touched the ground with my twelve limbs (viz. the ten toes and two soles).

samagra yavam acchidram paani paadam ca varnavat |

manda smitaa ity eva ca maam kanyaa laksanikaa viduh || 6-48-13

"Those who interpret the marks of youthful maidens spoke of me that my hands and feet are rosy, fully provided with marks each resembling a barley corn, devoid of space between my fingers and toes and that my smile is gentle."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48 adhiraajye abhiseko me braahmanaih patinaa saha |

krita anta kushalair uktam tat sarvam vitathii kritam || 6-48-14

"All that was told by Brahmins well-versed in sooth-saying, of me that- I should be consecrated on the imperial throne along with my husband -proved to be in vain."

shodhayitvaa jana sthaanam pravrittim upalabhya ca |

tiirtvaa saagaram aksobhyam bhraatarau gospade hatau || 6-48-15

"Having searched all the resorts of men, received the tidings of my fate, and crossed the impassable ocean, those two brothers have perished in the imprint of a cow's hoof (a small puddle)."

nanu vaarunam aagneyam aindram vaayavyam eva ca |

astram brahma shirash caiva raaghavau pratyapadyataam || 6-48-16

"Rama and Lakshmana surely knew the use of the arrows of Varuna, Agni, Indra and Vayu, as also the Brahmashira weapon."

adrishyamaanena rane maayayaa vaasava upamau |

mama naathaav anaathaayaa nihatau raama laksmanau || 6-48-17

"By means of magic arts, an invisible foe has slain Rama and Lakshmana, my protectors, who are equal to Indra in battle and I am now bereft of any support."

na hi dristi patham praapya raaghavasya rane ripuh |

jiivan pratinivarteta yady api syaan mano javah || 6-48-18

"Having reached the range of sight of Rama in a combat, no enemy could return alive, even though he were endowed with the swiftness of thought."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48 na kaalasya atibhaaro asti krita antash ca sudurjayah |

yatra raamah saha bhraatraa shete yudhi nipaathitah || 6-48-19

There is no burden too heavy for death to shoulder, as Rama along with his brother are lying struck down on the battle-field. Fate is inexorable [not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped]."

na aham shocaami bhartaaram nihatam na ca laksmanam |

na aatmaanam jananii ca api yathaa shvashruum tapasviniim || 6-48-20

"I do not repent so much for Rama and Lakshmana or for myself or even my mother but for my unfortunate mother-in-law, ."

saa hi cintayate nityam samaapta vratam aagatam |

kadaa draksyaami siitaam ca raamam ca saha laksmanam || 6-48-21

"Kausalya for her part, forever remains absorbed in the thought 'When shall I see Lakshmana and Seetha with Rama returned (to ) having completed his vow (of remaining in exile in the forest for fourteen years)?"

paridevayamaanaam taam raaksasii trijataa abraviit |

maa visaadam krithaa devi bhartaa ayam tava jiivati || 6-48-22

The demoness Trijata spoke to that lamenting Seetha as follows : "O, the god-like lady! Do not despair. Your husband, Rama is still living."

kaaranaani ca vaksyaami mahaanti sadrishaani ca |

yathaa imau jiivato devi bhraatarau raama laksmanau || 6-48-23

"O, godlike lady! I will tell you mighty and cogent reasons, how these two brothers Rama and Lakshmana are living."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48 na hi kopa pariitaani harsa paryutsukaani ca |

bhavanti yudhi yodhaanaam mukhaani nihate patau || 6-48-24

"The leader having been lost, the faces of the soldiers on the field of battle are never seized by anger nor are they animated with joy."

idam vimaanam vaidehi puspakam naama naamatah |

divyam tvaam dhaarayen na idam yady etau gaja jiivitau || 6-48-25

"O, Seetha! This aerial car called Pushpaka by name, celestial as it is, would not have brought you here, if those two heroes have lost their lives."

hata viira pradhaanaa hi hata utsaahaa nirudyamaa |

senaa bhramati samkhyesu hata karnaa iva naur jale || 6-48-26

"An army that sees its valiant commander fall is bereft of courage and wanders aimlessly about on the battle field, like a ship which has broken its rudder in water."

iyam punar asambhraantaa nirudvignaa tarasvinii |

senaa raksati kaakutsthau maayayaa nirjitau rane || 6-48-27

"This army for its part is neither confused nor perturbed and is guarding Rama and Lakshmana. I am pointing this out to you on account of my affection for you, O lady given to austerities!"

saa tvam bhava suvisrabdhaa;anumaanaih sukha udayaih |

ahatau pashya kaakutsthau snehaad etad braviimi te || 6-48-28

"You as such, be reassured by these auspicious omens. Behold Rama and Lakshmana who are not dead. I am telling you this, on account of my affection for you."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48 anritam na ukta puurvam me na ca vaksye kadaacana |

caaritra sukha shiilatvaat pravistaa asi mano mama || 6-48-29

"O, Seetha! I have not spoken falsehood before, nor shall I ever do so. By your conduct and natural gaiety, you have found a place in my heart!"

na imau shakyau rane jetum sa indrair api sura asuraih |

etayor aananam dristvaa mayaa ca aaveditam tava || 6-48-30

"Even celestials and demons along with Indra cannot vanquish there two heroes in battle. This is what I have observed and communicated to you."

idam ca sumahac cihnam shanaih pashyasva maithili |

nihsamjnaav apy ubhaav etau na eva laksmiir viyujyate || 6-48-31

"O Seetha!; See this, a great marvel !; See how, fallen under those shafts and deprived of their senses, their beauty has not deserted them."

praayena gata sattvaanaam purusaanaam gata aayusaam |

drishyamaanesu vaktresu param bhavati vaikritam || 6-48-32

"Generally, the faces of those who lost their lives and whose vital power has vanished, will be appearing with an appalling alteration".

tyaja shokam ca duhkham ca moham ca aatmaje |

raama laksmanayor arthe na adya shakyam ajiivitum || 6-48-33

"O, Seetha! Banish your grief, pain and ignorance on account of Rama and Lakshmana. It is impossible, now with the splendor seen in their faces, for Rama and Lakshmana to die."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48 shrutvaa tu vacanam tasyaah siitaa sura sutaa upamaa |

krita anjalir uvaaca idam evam astv iti maithilii || 6-48-34

Hearing her words, Seetha, the daughter of kingdom resembling a daughter of gods, with joined palms exclaimed, "May it be so."

vimaanam puspakam tat tu samivartya mano javam |

diinaa trijatayaa siitaa lankaam eva praveshitaa || 6-48-35

After sending back that aerial car, Pushpaka which was as swift as the thought, the sorrowful Seetha was caused by Trijata to enter once more.

tatas trijatayaa saardham puspakaad avaruhya saa |

ashoka vanikaam eva raksasiibhih praveshitaa || 6-48-36

Thereafter, Seetha along with Trijata who descended from Pushpaka the aerial car, were caused by the female demons, to enter the Ashoka grove again.

pravishya siitaa bahu vriksa sandaam |

taam raaksasa indrasya vihaara bhuumim |sampreksya samcintya ca raaja putrau |

param visaadam samupaajagaama || 6-48-37

Entering that Ashoka grove, planted with a multitude of trees, sporting ground of and recalling the two princes who she had just seen, Seetha gave way to extreme grief.

ityaarshe shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye yuddhakaande astachatvaarimshah sargah

Thus completes 48th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate

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Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 48 References

K. M. K. Murthy. (2002). Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War.

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.

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