Sita Tells Her Own Story

Shloka 1 (sundara.33.1)

सोऽवतीर्य द्रुमात् तस्माद् विद्रुमप्रतिमाननः । विनीतवेषः कृपणः प्रणिपत्योपसृत्य च ॥ 33.1 ॥

so'vatīrya drumāt tasmād vidrumapratimānanaḥ | vinītaveṣaḥ kṛpaṇaḥ praṇipatyopasṛtya ca || 33.1 ||

He, descending from that tree, his face coral-hued, in humble guise, appearing wretched, having bowed low, then drew near --

Shloka 2 (sundara.33.2)

तामब्रवीन्महातेजा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय सीतां मधुरया गिरा ॥ 33.2 ॥

tāmabravīnmahātejā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ | śirasyañjalimādhāya sītāṃ madhurayā girā || 33.2 ||

and that greatly radiant Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, with joined palms raised to his head, spoke to Sita in a sweet voice:

Shloka 3 (sundara.33.3)

का नु पद्मपलाशाक्षि क्लिष्टकौशेयवासिनि । द्रुमस्य शाखामालम्ब्य तिष्ठसि त्वमनिन्दिते ॥ 33.3 ॥

kā nu padmapalāśākṣi kliṣṭakauśeyavāsini | drumasya śākhāmālambya tiṣṭhasi tvamanindite || 33.3 ||

"Who indeed are you, O lotus-petal-eyed one, clad in a worn silken garment, O irreproachable lady, standing here holding the branch of a tree?"

Shloka 4 (sundara.33.4)

किमर्थं तव नेत्राभ्यां वारि स्रवति शोकजम् । पुण्डरीकपलाशाभ्यां विप्रकीर्णमिवोदकम् ॥ 33.4 ॥

kimarthaṃ tava netrābhyāṃ vāri sravati śokajam | puṇḍarīkapalāśābhyāṃ viprakīrṇamivodakam || 33.4 ||

"Why does water born of sorrow flow from your two eyes, like water scattered from two white-lotus petals?"

Shloka 5 (sundara.33.5)

सुराणामसुराणां च नागगन्धर्वरक्षसाम् । यक्षाणां किंनराणां च का त्वं भवसि शोभने ॥ 33.5 ॥

surāṇāmasurāṇāṃ ca nāgagandharvarakṣasām | yakṣāṇāṃ kiṃnarāṇāṃ ca kā tvaṃ bhavasi śobhane || 33.5 ||

"O lovely one, of whom are you -- the gods, or the demons, or the Nagas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Yakshas, or Kinnaras?"

Shloka 6 (sundara.33.6)

का त्वं भवसि रुद्राणां मरुतां वा वरानने । वसूनां वा वरारोहे देवता प्रतिभासि मे ॥ 33.6 ॥

kā tvaṃ bhavasi rudrāṇāṃ marutāṃ vā varānane | vasūnāṃ vā varārohe devatā pratibhāsi me || 33.6 ||

"O fair-faced one, are you among the Rudras, or the Maruts, or -- O beautifully formed lady -- among the Vasus? You seem to me to be a goddess."

Shloka 7 (sundara.33.7)

किं नु चन्द्रमसा हीना पतिता विबुधालयात् । रोहिणी ज्योतिषां श्रेष्ठा श्रेष्ठा सर्वगुणाधिका ॥ 33.7 ॥

kiṃ nu candramasā hīnā patitā vibudhālayāt | rohiṇī jyotiṣāṃ śreṣṭhā śreṣṭhā sarvaguṇādhikā || 33.7 ||

"Or are you Rohini, foremost among the constellations, surpassing all in every virtue, fallen from the abode of the gods, parted from the moon?"

Shloka 8 (sundara.33.8)

कोपाद् वा यदि वा मोहाद् भर्तारमसितेक्षणे । वसिष्ठं कोपयित्वा त्वं वासि कल्याण्यरुन्धती ॥ 33.8 ॥

kopād vā yadi vā mohād bhartāramasitekṣaṇe | vasiṣṭhaṃ kopayitvā tvaṃ vāsi kalyāṇyarundhatī || 33.8 ||

"Or, O dark-eyed one, having angered your husband Vasishtha through wrath or through delusion, are you the blessed Arundhati?"

Shloka 9 (sundara.33.9)

को नु पुत्रः पिता भ्राता भर्ता वा ते सुमध्यमे । अस्माल्लोकादमुं लोकं गतं त्वमनुशोचसि ॥ 33.9 ॥

ko nu putraḥ pitā bhrātā bhartā vā te sumadhyame | asmāllokādamuṃ lokaṃ gataṃ tvamanuśocasi || 33.9 ||

"O slender-waisted one, is it a son, a father, a brother, or a husband of yours who has passed from this world to the next, that you mourn so?"

Shloka 10 (sundara.33.10)

रोदनादतिनिःश्वासाद् भूमिसंस्पर्शनादपि । न त्वां देवीमहं मन्ये राज्ञः संज्ञावधारणात् ॥ 33.10 ॥

rodanādatiniḥśvāsād bhūmisaṃsparśanādapi | na tvāṃ devīmahaṃ manye rājñaḥ saṃjñāvadhāraṇāt || 33.10 ||

"From your weeping, your deep and repeated sighs, your touching the earth, and the marks I recognise as belonging to a royal house, I do not take you to be a goddess."

Shloka 11 (sundara.33.11)

व्यञ्जनानि हि ते यानि लक्षणानि च लक्षये । महिषी भूमिपालस्य राजकन्या च मे मता ॥ 33.11 ॥

vyañjanāni hi te yāni lakṣaṇāni ca lakṣaye | mahiṣī bhūmipālasya rājakanyā ca me matā || 33.11 ||

"By the marks and characteristics which I observe upon you, I judge you to be the queen of a king of the earth, and a king's own daughter."

Shloka 12 (sundara.33.12)

रावणेन जनस्थानाद् बलात् प्रमथिता यदि । सीता त्वमसि भद्रं ते तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः ॥ 33.12 ॥

rāvaṇena janasthānād balāt pramathitā yadi | sītā tvamasi bhadraṃ te tanmamācakṣva pṛcchataḥ || 33.12 ||

"If you are Sita, forcibly carried off by Ravana from Janasthana, then tell it to me who ask -- may good befall you."

Shloka 13 (sundara.33.13)

यथा हि तव वै दैन्यं रूपं चाप्यतिमानुषम् । तपसा चान्वितो वेषस्त्वं राममहिषी ध्रुवम् ॥ 33.13 ॥

yathā hi tava vai dainyaṃ rūpaṃ cāpyatimānuṣam | tapasā cānvito veṣastvaṃ rāmamahiṣī dhruvam || 33.13 ||

"Given your wretched state, yet a beauty beyond the human, and a bearing marked by austerity -- you are surely Rama's queen."

Shloka 14 (sundara.33.14)

सा तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रामकीर्तनहर्षिता । उवाच वाक्यं वैदेही हनूमन्तं द्रुमाश्रितम् ॥ 33.14 ॥

sā tasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rāmakīrtanaharṣitā | uvāca vākyaṃ vaidehī hanūmantaṃ drumāśritam || 33.14 ||

She, hearing his words, and gladdened simply at the mention of Rama's name, Vaidehi spoke thus to Hanuman perched upon the tree:

Shloka 15 (sundara.33.15)

पृथिव्यां राजसिंहानां मुख्यस्य विदितात्मनः । स्नुषा दशरथस्याहं शत्रुसैन्यप्रणाशिनः ॥ 33.15 ॥

pṛthivyāṃ rājasiṃhānāṃ mukhyasya viditātmanaḥ | snuṣā daśarathasyāhaṃ śatrusainyapraṇāśinaḥ || 33.15 ||

"I am the daughter-in-law of Dasharatha -- foremost among the lion-like kings of the earth, of renowned soul, destroyer of enemy armies."

Shloka 16 (sundara.33.16)

दुहिता जनकस्याहं वैदेहस्य महात्मनः । सीतेति नाम्ना चोक्ताहं भार्या रामस्य धीमतः ॥ 33.16 ॥

duhitā janakasyāhaṃ vaidehasya mahātmanaḥ | sīteti nāmnā coktāhaṃ bhāryā rāmasya dhīmataḥ || 33.16 ||

"I am the daughter of the great-souled Janaka, king of Videha; I am called by the name Sita, and I am the wife of the wise Rama."

Shloka 17 (sundara.33.17)

समा द्वादश तत्राहं राघवस्य निवेशने । भुञ्जाना मानुषान् भोगान् सर्वकामसमृद्धिनी ॥ 33.17 ॥

samā dvādaśa tatrāhaṃ rāghavasya niveśane | bhuñjānā mānuṣān bhogān sarvakāmasamṛddhinī || 33.17 ||

"For twelve years I dwelt there in Raghava's household, enjoying human pleasures, every desire of mine fulfilled."

Shloka 18 (sundara.33.18)

ततस्त्रयोदशे वर्षे राज्ये चेक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम् । अभिषेचयितुं राजा सोपाध्यायः प्रचक्रमे ॥ 33.18 ॥

tatastrayodaśe varṣe rājye cekṣvākunandanam | abhiṣecayituṃ rājā sopādhyāyaḥ pracakrame || 33.18 ||

"Then, in the thirteenth year, the king, together with his preceptors, set about to consecrate that son of the Ikshvakus to the kingdom."

Shloka 19 (sundara.33.19)

तस्मिन् सम्भ्रियमाणे तु राघवस्याभिषेचने । कैकेयी नाम भर्तारमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 33.19 ॥

tasmin sambhriyamāṇe tu rāghavasyābhiṣecane | kaikeyī nāma bhartāramidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 33.19 ||

"But while Raghava's consecration was being made ready, the one named Kaikeyi spoke this word to her husband:"

Shloka 20 (sundara.33.20)

न पिबेयं न खादेयं प्रत्यहं मम भोजनम् । एष मे जीवितस्यान्तो रामो यद्यभिषिच्यते ॥ 33.20 ॥

na pibeyaṃ na khādeyaṃ pratyahaṃ mama bhojanam | eṣa me jīvitasyānto rāmo yadyabhiṣicyate || 33.20 ||

"'I shall neither drink nor eat my daily food. This shall be the end of my life, if Rama is consecrated.'"

Shloka 21 (sundara.33.21)

यत् तदुक्तं त्वया वाक्यं प्रीत्या नृपतिसत्तम । तच्चेन्न वितथं कार्यं वनं गच्छतु राघवः ॥ 33.21 ॥

yat taduktaṃ tvayā vākyaṃ prītyā nṛpatisattama | taccenna vitathaṃ kāryaṃ vanaṃ gacchatu rāghavaḥ || 33.21 ||

"'O best of kings, that promise you once made me out of affection -- if it is not to be broken, let Raghava go to the forest.'"

Shloka 22 (sundara.33.22)

स राजा सत्यवाग् देव्या वरदानमनुस्मरन् । मुमोह वचनं श्रुत्वा कैकेय्याः क्रूरमप्रियम् ॥ 33.22 ॥

sa rājā satyavāg devyā varadānamanusmaran | mumoha vacanaṃ śrutvā kaikeyyāḥ krūramapriyam || 33.22 ||

"That king, true to his word, recalling the boon he had granted the queen, hearing Kaikeyi's cruel and unwelcome words, fell into a swoon."

Shloka 23 (sundara.33.23)

ततस्तं स्थविरो राजा सत्यधर्मे व्यवस्थितः । ज्येष्ठं यशस्विनं पुत्रं रुदन् राज्यमयाचत ॥ 33.23 ॥

tatastaṃ sthaviro rājā satyadharme vyavasthitaḥ | jyeṣṭhaṃ yaśasvinaṃ putraṃ rudan rājyamayācata || 33.23 ||

"Then that aged king, ever steadfast in truth and dharma, weeping, asked his glorious eldest son to give back the kingdom."

Shloka 24 (sundara.33.24)

स पितुर्वचनं श्रीमानभिषेकात् परं प्रियम् । मनसा पूर्वमासाद्य वाचा प्रतिगृहीतवान् ॥ 33.24 ॥

sa piturvacanaṃ śrīmānabhiṣekāt paraṃ priyam | manasā pūrvamāsādya vācā pratigṛhītavān || 33.24 ||

"That illustrious one, holding his father's word dearer even than his own consecration, first accepted it in his mind, and then confirmed it in speech."

Shloka 25 (sundara.33.25)

दद्यान्न प्रतिगृह्णीयात् सत्यं ब्रूयान्न चानृतम् । अपि जीवितहेतोर्हि रामः सत्यपराक्रमः ॥ 33.25 ॥

dadyānna pratigṛhṇīyāt satyaṃ brūyānna cānṛtam | api jīvitahetorhi rāmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ || 33.25 ||

"He gives but does not take back; he speaks only truth, never falsehood -- such is Rama, true in valour, even were his very life at stake."

Shloka 26 (sundara.33.26)

स विहायोत्तरीयाणि महार्हाणि महायशाः । विसृज्य मनसा राज्यं जनन्यै मां समादिशत् ॥ 33.26 ॥

sa vihāyottarīyāṇi mahārhāṇi mahāyaśāḥ | visṛjya manasā rājyaṃ jananyai māṃ samādiśat || 33.26 ||

"That greatly renowned one, casting off his costly upper garments, relinquishing the kingdom in his heart, entrusted me to his mother."

Shloka 27 (sundara.33.27)

साहं तस्याग्रतस्तूर्णं प्रस्थिता वनचारिणी । नहि मे तेन हीनाया वासः स्वर्गेऽपि रोचते ॥ 33.27 ॥

sāhaṃ tasyāgratastūrṇaṃ prasthitā vanacāriṇī | nahi me tena hīnāyā vāsaḥ svarge'pi rocate || 33.27 ||

"I, ready to become a forest-wanderer, set out swiftly ahead of him; for to me, bereft of him, even dwelling in heaven would give no delight."

Shloka 28 (sundara.33.28)

प्रागेव तु महाभागः सौमित्रिर्मित्रनन्दनः । पूर्वजस्यानुयात्रार्थे कुशचीरैरलंकृतः ॥ 33.28 ॥

prāgeva tu mahābhāgaḥ saumitrirmitranandanaḥ | pūrvajasyānuyātrārthe kuśacīrairalaṃkṛtaḥ || 33.28 ||

"Even before that, the greatly fortunate Saumitri, delight of his friends, arrayed himself in garments of kusha-grass and bark, to follow his elder brother."

Shloka 29 (sundara.33.29)

ते वयं भर्तुरादेशं बहुमान्य दृढव्रताः । प्रविष्टाः स्म पुरादृष्टं वनं गम्भीरदर्शनम् ॥ 33.29 ॥

te vayaṃ bharturādeśaṃ bahumānya dṛḍhavratāḥ | praviṣṭāḥ sma purādṛṣṭaṃ vanaṃ gambhīradarśanam || 33.29 ||

"We, thus, greatly honouring the command of our lord, firm in our vow, entered a forest never before seen by us, deep and dense in aspect."

Shloka 30 (sundara.33.30)

वसतो दण्डकारण्ये तस्याहममितौजसः । रक्षसापहृता भार्या रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥ 33.30 ॥

vasato daṇḍakāraṇye tasyāhamamitaujasaḥ | rakṣasāpahṛtā bhāryā rāvaṇena durātmanā || 33.30 ||

"While he, of boundless might, was dwelling in the Dandaka forest, I, his wife, was carried off by the wicked demon Ravana."

Shloka 31 (sundara.33.31)

द्वौ मासौ तेन मे कालो जीवितानुग्रहः कृतः । ऊर्ध्वं द्वाभ्यां तु मासाभ्यां ततस्त्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम् ॥ 33.31 ॥

dvau māsau tena me kālo jīvitānugrahaḥ kṛtaḥ | ūrdhvaṃ dvābhyāṃ tu māsābhyāṃ tatastyakṣyāmi jīvitam || 33.31 ||

"A grace of two months' time has been granted me by him to live; beyond those two months, I shall give up my life."