“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 33 Sarama Assures Sita that Rama is Alive Summary An ogre [monster] named Sarama reassures Seetha by telling her that Ravana, the conjurer [wizard] created an illusory appearance of Rama’s head and exhibited it before her. She informs Seetha that Rama is still alive and is stationed along with his forces at the southern shore of the ocean. Sarama restores confidence to Seetha, by saying that Rama after killing Ravana in battle will soon win her back. Chapter [Sarga] 33 in Detail siitaam tu mohitaam dristvaa saramaa naama raaksasii | aasasaada aashu vaidehiim priyaam pranayinii sakhii || 6-33-1 Seeing the bewildered Seetha, a demon named Sarama, an affectionate female companion then approached Seetha, her beloved Seetha, and her beloved friend. mohitaam raakshasendrena siitaam paramaduhkhitaam | aashvaasayaamaasa tadaa saramaa mridubhaashinii || 6-33-2 Sarama, the soft-spoken woman, consoled Seetha who having been infatuated by Ravana was very much in distress. saa hi tatra kritaa mitram siitayaa raksyamaanayaa | raksantii raavanaad istaa saanukroshaa dridha vrataa || 6-33-3 Sarama, who was assigned by Ravana to guard Seetha, was kind hearted and firm in austerity. She was indeed made a companion by Seetha, who was being protected by her there. Page 1 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 33 saa dadarsha sakhiim siitaam saramaa nasta cetanaam | upaavritya utthitaam dhvastaam vadavaam iva paamsusu || 6-33-4 The affectionate Sarama found Seetha stupefied and just risen after rolling in the dust and soiled, resembling a female horse. taam samaashvaasayaam aasa sakhii snehena suvrataa | uktaa yad raavanena tvam pratyuktam ca svayam tvayaa || 6-33-5 Sarama consoled the very virtuous Seetha as follows “O, Seetha! Be comfortable! Do not get perturbed [confused] in your mind. uktaa yadraavanena tvam pratyuktashcha svayam tvayaa | sakhii snehena tad bhiiru mayaa sarvam pratishrutam || 6-33-6 liinayaa ganahe shuuhye bhayam utsrijya raavanaat | tava hetor vishaala aksi na hi me jiivitam priyam || 6-33-7 Timid woman! Because of my friendship with you, I overheard Ravana’s words and all the words you have spoken in reply to him, by hiding nearby in a barren sky without fear. O, large eyed woman! I do not have any fear of Ravana, owing to my affection towards you”. sa sambhraantasha ca niskraanto yat krite raaksasa adhipah | tac ca me viditam sarvam abhiniskramya maithili || 6-33-8 "O, Seetha! Every thing was ascertained by me on the spot, after going out, about the reason for which Ravana has gone away agitated." na shakyam sauptikam kartum raamasya vidita aatmanah | vadhashca purusa vyaaghre tasminn eva upapadyate || 6-33-9 “It is not possible to attack Rama, a man of self awareness, while he is asleep. Nay even killing him, the tiger among men, is well nigh impossible.” Page 2 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 33 na ca eva vaanaraa hantum shakyaah paadapa yodhinah | suraa deva risabhena iva raamena hi suraksitaah || 6-33-10 “It is not possible to kill in this manner even monkeys, who perform fighting with trees, in as much as they are fully protected by Rama, even as celestials are protected by Indra their lord” diirgha vritta bhujah shriimaan mahaa uraskah prataapavaan | dhanvii samhanana upeto dharma aatmaa bhuvi vishrutah || 6-33-11 vikraanto raksitaa nityam aatmanashca parasya ca | laksmanena saha bhraatraa kushalii naya shaastravit || 6-33-12 hantaa para bala oghaanaam acintya bala paurusah | na hato raaghavah shriimaan siite shatru nibarhanah || 13 “O, Seetha! Rama, who is endowed with long and well rounded arms, an illustrious man, who is large-chested, a man of great energy, an archer well known in the world, a man endowed with muscularity, a righteous minded man, a person of celebrity on earth, a man of eternal strength, a protector for himself and for others, while together with his brother Lakshmana, a man of high descent, a knower of doctrines of conduct and behavior, the killer of a stream of enemy forces, a man of inconceivable strength and valor, a venerable man and an annihilator of adversaries [enemies], has not been killed.” ayukta buddhi krityena sarva bhuuta virodhinaa | iyam prayuktaa raudrena maayaa maayaavidaa tvayi || 6-33-14 “Trickery has been hurled on you here by the cruel Ravana, a conjurer [wizard], who is perverse [corrupt] in thinking and action and an enemy of all beings.” shokas te vigatah sarvah kalyaanam tvaam upasthitam | dhruvam tvaam bhajate laksmiih priyam priiti karam shrinu || 6-33-15 “Your sorrow is (now) gone once for all. An all-pervading auspiciousness will await you. Accordingly prosperity will attend on you. Hear me.” Page 3 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 33 uttiirya saagaram raamah saha vaanara senayaa | samnivistah samudrasya tiiram aasaadya daksinam || 6-33-16 “Rama, along with his army of monkeys, having crossed the ocean, reached its southern shore and is encamped there.” dristo me paripuurna arthah kaakutsthah saha laksmanah | sahitaih saagara antasthair balais tisthati raksitah || 6-33-17 “Rama, who was along with fully meaningful Lakshmana, was perceived by me. He stands protected by the troops gathered together at the vicinity of the ocean.” anena presitaa ye ca raaksasaa laghu vikramah | raaghavas tiirnaity evam pravrittis tair iha aahritaa || 6-33-18 “Some swift paced demons, who were dispatched by Ravana, brought this very news here that Rama has crossed the ocean.” sa taam shrutvaa vishaala aksi pravrittim raaksasa adhipah | esa mantrayate sarvaih sacivaih saha raavanah || 6-33-19 “O, the wide-eyed Seetha! Hearing that news, yonder Ravana is busy making deliberations with all his ministers.” iti bruvaanaa saramaa raaksasii siitayaa saha | sarva udyogena sainyaanaam shabdam shushraava bhairavam || 6-33-20 While Sarama, the ogre was talking as aforesaid with Seetha; a terrific sound was heard, from the troops engaged in the impending war. Page 4 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 33 danda nirghaata vaadinyaah shrutvaa bheryaa mahaa svanam | uvaaca saramaa siitaam idam madhura bhaasinii || 6-33-21 Hearing the crashing sound of kettle drums, made to sound like a thunder storm with a drum stick, Sarama in her sweet voice spoke to Seetha as follows: samnaaha jananii hy esaa bhairavaa bhiiru bherikaa | bherii naadam ca gambhiiram shrinu toyada nisvanam || 6-33-22 “O, timid Seetha! This frightful sound of a kettledrum is indeed indicative of preparation for a war. Hear also the thundering crash of the kettle drums, which resembles the rumbling of clouds” kalpyante matta maatamgaa yujyante ratha vaajinah | tatra tatra ca samnaddhaah sampatanti padaatayah || 6-33-23 “Elephants in rut are being caparisoned for war. Chariot horses are being prepared for a battle. Thousands of horsemen carrying darts in their hands are seen.” tatra tatra cha sannaddhaah sampatanti sahasrashah | aapuuryante raaja maargaah sainyair adbhuta darshanaih || 6-33-24 vegavadbhir nadadbhishca toya oghair iva saagarah | “Thousands of soldiers equipped with armor are marching quickly hither and thither. Royal highways are filled with wonderfully looking warriors like a swift flowing sea with its flood of waters making a roaring sound.” Page 5 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 33 shaastraanaam ca prasannaanaam carmanaam varmanaam tathaa || 6-33-25 ratha vaaji gajaanaam ca bhuusitaanaam ca raksasaam | sambhramo rakshasaamesa hrishitaanaam tarasvinaam || 6-33-26 prabhaam visrijataam pashya naanaa varnaam samutthitaam | vanam nirdahato dharme yathaa ruupam vibhaavasoh || 6-33-27 “See hurriedly, this sheen of polished weapons, shields and coats of mail sending forth luster of many hues like the splendor of fire consuming a forest in summer. Here is seen the flurry of chariots, horses and elephants following the lead of Ravana as well as of energetic demons thrilled with joy.” ghantaanaam shrinu nirghosam rathaanaam shrinu nisvanam | hayaanaam hesamaanaanaam shrinu tuurya dhvanim yathaa || 6-33-28 udyata aayudha hastaanaam raaksasa indra anuyaayinaam | sambhramo raksasaam esa tumulo loma harsanah || 6-33-29 “Hear the sound of bells of elephants. Hear the ratting of chariots. Hear the cry of neighing horses, resembling the flourish of trumpets. Here is the bustle of demons, carrying uplifted weapons in their hands; following the lead of Ravana. This bustling activity is causing hair to stand erect through terror.” shriis tvaam bhajati shokaghnii raksasaam bhayam aagatam | raamaat kamala patra aksi daityaanaam iva vaasavaat || 6-33-30 avajitya jita krodhas tam acintya paraakramah | raavanam samare hatvaa bhartaa tvaa adhigamisyati || 6-33-31 “A good fortune, which will bring your sorrow to an end, awaits you. A peril has arrived for demons. The lotus eyed Rama, your husband, who has overcome his anger but having an unimaginable strength will kill Ravana in battle and win you back” Page 6 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 33 vikramisyati raksahsu bhartaa te saha laksmanah | yathaa shatrusu shatrughno visnunaa saha vaasavah || 6-33-32 “Your consort along with Lakshmana will show his valor against the demons, like Indra the lord of celestials along with Vishnu the lord of preservation, the annihilator of enemies exhibited his strength over his adversaries.”