Sita Is Brought Before Rama

Shloka 1 (yuddha.114.1)

तमुवाच महाप्रज्ञमभिगम्य प्लवङ्गमः । रामं वचनमर्थज्ञो वरं सर्वधनुष्मताम् ॥ 114.1 ॥

tamuvāca mahāprajñamabhigamya plavaṅgamaḥ | rāmaṃ vacanamarthajño varaṃ sarvadhanuṣmatām || 114.1 ||

Approaching Rama, foremost of all wielders of the bow, the wise vanara, knowing well the meaning of words, spoke to him.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.114.2)

यन्निमित्तोऽयमारम्भः कर्मणां च फलोदयः । तां देवीं शोकसन्तप्तां मैथिलीं द्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥ 114.2 ॥

yannimitto'yamārambhaḥ karmaṇāṃ ca phalodayaḥ | tāṃ devīṃ śokasantaptāṃ maithilīṃ draṣṭumarhasi || 114.2 ||

"You ought to see that grief-stricken lady Maithili, for whose sake this whole undertaking was begun and has now borne fruit."

Shloka 3 (yuddha.114.3)

सा हि शोकसमाविष्टा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा । मैथिली विजयं श्रुत्वा तव हर्षमुपागमत् ॥ 114.3 ॥

sā hi śokasamāviṣṭā bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā | maithilī vijayaṃ śrutvā tava harṣamupāgamat || 114.3 ||

"That Maithili, overcome with grief, her eyes brimming with tears, on hearing of your victory has been filled with joy."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.114.4)

पूर्वकात्प्रत्ययाच्चाहमुक्तो विश्वस्तया तया । भर्तारं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि कृतार्थं सहलक्ष्मणम् ॥ 114.4 ॥

pūrvakātpratyayāccāhamukto viśvastayā tayā | bhartāraṃ draṣṭumicchāmi kṛtārthaṃ sahalakṣmaṇam || 114.4 ||

"Trusting me, as she had reason to since before, she said to me, 'I wish to see my husband, his purpose now fulfilled, together with Lakshmana.'"

Shloka 5 (yuddha.114.5)

एवमुक्तो हनुमता रामो धर्मभृतां वरः । अगच्छत्सहसा ध्यानमासीद्बाष्पपरिप्लुतः ॥ 114.5 ॥

evamukto hanumatā rāmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | agacchatsahasā dhyānamāsīdbāṣpapariplutaḥ || 114.5 ||

Hearing this from Hanuman, Rama, foremost among upholders of dharma, was suddenly overcome with thought, his eyes brimming with tears.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.114.6)

दीर्घमुष्णं च निश्वस्य मेदिनीम् अवलोकयन् । उवाच मेघसंकाशं विभीषणमुपस्थितम् ॥ 114.6 ॥

dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca niśvasya medinīm avalokayan | uvāca meghasaṃkāśaṃ vibhīṣaṇamupasthitam || 114.6 ||

Heaving a long, hot sigh and gazing at the ground, he spoke to Vibhishana, who stood nearby, dark as a rain-cloud.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.114.7)

दिव्याङ्गरागां वैदेहीं दिव्याभरणभूषिताम् । इह सीतां शिरःस्नातामुपस्थापय मा चिरम् ॥ 114.7 ॥

divyāṅgarāgāṃ vaidehīṃ divyābharaṇabhūṣitām | iha sītāṃ śiraḥsnātāmupasthāpaya mā ciram || 114.7 ||

"Bring Vaidehi here — bathed, her hair washed, anointed with fine cosmetics and adorned with divine ornaments. Let there be no delay."

Shloka 8 (yuddha.114.8)

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण त्वरमाणो विभीषणः । प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं सीतां स्त्रीभिः स्वाभिरचोदयत् ॥ 114.8 ॥

evamuktastu rāmeṇa tvaramāṇo vibhīṣaṇaḥ | praviśyāntaḥpuraṃ sītāṃ strībhiḥ svābhiracodayat || 114.8 ||

Thus commanded by Rama, Vibhishana hastened into the inner apartments and, through his own women, informed Sita.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.114.9)

ततो सीतां महाभागां दृष्ट्वोवाच विभीषणः । मूर्ध्नि बद्धाञ्जलिः श्रीमान् विनीतो राक्षसेश्वरः ॥ 114.9 ॥

tato sītāṃ mahābhāgāṃ dṛṣṭvovāca vibhīṣaṇaḥ | mūrdhni baddhāñjaliḥ śrīmān vinīto rākṣaseśvaraḥ || 114.9 ||

Then, seeing the most fortunate Sita, the glorious lord of the rakshasas, Vibhishana, joined his palms above his head and humbly spoke.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.114.10)

दिव्याङ्गरागा वैदेहि दिव्याभरणभूषिता । यानमारोह भद्रं ते भर्ता त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति ॥ 114.10 ॥

divyāṅgarāgā vaidehi divyābharaṇabhūṣitā | yānamāroha bhadraṃ te bhartā tvāṃ draṣṭumicchati || 114.10 ||

"O Vaidehi, anointed with divine cosmetics and adorned with divine ornaments, mount the palanquin — may good befall you. Your husband wishes to see you."

Shloka 11 (yuddha.114.11)

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेहि प्रत्युवाच विभीषणम् । अस्नात्वा द्रष्टुमिच्छामि भर्तारं राक्षसाधिप ॥ 114.11 ॥

evamuktā tu vaidehi pratyuvāca vibhīṣaṇam | asnātvā draṣṭumicchāmi bhartāraṃ rākṣasādhipa || 114.11 ||

Thus addressed, Vaidehi replied to Vibhishana: "O lord of the rakshasas, I wish to see my husband even without bathing."

Shloka 12 (yuddha.114.12)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः । यथाहं रामो भर्ता ते तत् तथा कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ 114.12 ॥

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā pratyuvāca vibhīṣaṇaḥ | yathāhaṃ rāmo bhartā te tat tathā kartumarhasi || 114.12 ||

Hearing her words, Vibhishana replied: "You ought to do exactly as Rama, your husband, has instructed through me."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.114.13)

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा मैथिली भ्रातृदेवता । भर्तृभक्त्यावृता साध्वी तथेति प्रत्यभाषत ॥ 114.13 ॥

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā maithilī bhrātṛdevatā | bhartṛbhaktyāvṛtā sādhvī tatheti pratyabhāṣata || 114.13 ||

Hearing his words, virtuous Maithili, who held her husband as her deity and was wrapped in devotion to him, replied, "So be it."

Shloka 14 (yuddha.114.14)

ततो सीतां शिरःस्नातां युवतीभिरलङ्कृताम् । महार्हाभरणोपेतां महार्हाम्बरधारिणीम् ॥ 114.14 ॥

tato sītāṃ śiraḥsnātāṃ yuvatībhiralaṅkṛtām | mahārhābharaṇopetāṃ mahārhāmbaradhāriṇīm || 114.14 ||

Then Sita, her hair bathed, adorned by young attendant women, wearing costly ornaments and precious robes,

Shloka 15 (yuddha.114.15)

आरोप्य शिबिकां दीप्तां परार्घ्याम्बरसंवृताम् । रक्षोभिर्बहुभिर्गुप्तामाजहार विभीषणः ॥ 114.15 ॥

āropya śibikāṃ dīptāṃ parārghyāmbarasaṃvṛtām | rakṣobhirbahubhirguptāmājahāra vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 114.15 ||

was seated by Vibhishana in a resplendent palanquin, covered with priceless cloth and guarded by many rakshasas, and thus brought before Rama.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.114.16)

सोऽभिगम्य महात्मानं ज्ञात्वाभिध्यानमास्थितम् । प्रणतश्च प्रहृष्टश्च प्राप्तां सीतां न्यवेदयत् ॥ 114.16 ॥

so'bhigamya mahātmānaṃ jñātvābhidhyānamāsthitam | praṇataśca prahṛṣṭaśca prāptāṃ sītāṃ nyavedayat || 114.16 ||

Approaching the great-souled Rama, whom he found deep in thought, Vibhishana bowed low and, full of joy, announced that Sita had arrived.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.114.17)

तामागतामुपश्रुत्य रक्षोगृहचिरोषिताम् । हर्षो दैन्यं च रोषश्च त्रयं राघवमाविशत् ॥ 114.17 ॥

tāmāgatāmupaśrutya rakṣogṛhaciroṣitām | harṣo dainyaṃ ca roṣaśca trayaṃ rāghavamāviśat || 114.17 ||

Hearing that she, who had dwelt so long in a rakshasa's house, had arrived, three emotions at once seized Raghava — joy, anguish, and wrath.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.114.18)

ततो पार्श्वगतं दृष्ट्वा सविमर्शं विचारयन् । विभीषणमिदं वाक्यमहृष्टो राघवोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 114.18 ॥

tato pārśvagataṃ dṛṣṭvā savimarśaṃ vicārayan | vibhīṣaṇamidaṃ vākyamahṛṣṭo rāghavo'bravīt || 114.18 ||

Then, looking at Vibhishana who stood beside him, and pondering deeply, joyless Raghava spoke these words.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.114.19)

राक्षसाधिपते सौम्य नित्यं मद्विजये रत । वैदेहि संनिकर्षं मे शीघ्रं समुपगच्छतु ॥ 114.19 ॥

rākṣasādhipate saumya nityaṃ madvijaye rata | vaidehi saṃnikarṣaṃ me śīghraṃ samupagacchatu || 114.19 ||

"Gentle lord of the rakshasas, ever devoted to my victory — let Vaidehi come quickly into my presence."

Shloka 20 (yuddha.114.20)

स तद्वचनमाज्ञाय राघवस्य विभीषणः । तूर्णमुत्सारणं यत्नं कारयामास सर्वशः ॥ 114.20 ॥

sa tadvacanamājñāya rāghavasya vibhīṣaṇaḥ | tūrṇamutsāraṇaṃ yatnaṃ kārayāmāsa sarvaśaḥ || 114.20 ||

Hearing these words of Raghava, Vibhishana promptly had the crowd cleared away on every side.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.114.21)

कञ्चुकोष्णीषिणस्तत्र वेत्रझर्झरपाणयः । उत्सारयन्तः पुरुषाः समन्तात्परिचक्रमुः ॥ 114.21 ॥

kañcukoṣṇīṣiṇastatra vetrajharjharapāṇayaḥ | utsārayantaḥ puruṣāḥ samantātparicakramuḥ || 114.21 ||

Men clad in tunics and turbans, staves and rattling clubs in hand, moved about on every side, driving the crowds back.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.114.22)

ऋक्षाणां वानराणां च राक्षसानां च सर्वशः । वृन्दान्युत्सार्यमाणानि दूरमुत्तस्थुरन्ततः ॥ 114.22 ॥

ṛkṣāṇāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca rākṣasānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | vṛndānyutsāryamāṇāni dūramuttasthurantataḥ || 114.22 ||

The throngs of bears, vanaras, and rakshasas, driven back on every side, rose up and withdrew to a distance.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.114.23)

तेषामुत्सार्यमाणानां सर्वेषां ध्वनिरुत्थितः । वायुनोद्धूयमानस्य सागरस्येव निस्वनः ॥ 114.23 ॥

teṣāmutsāryamāṇānāṃ sarveṣāṃ dhvanirutthitaḥ | vāyunod‍dhūyamānasya sāgarasyeva nisvanaḥ || 114.23 ||

As all of them were being driven back, a great roar arose, like the roar of an ocean churned by the wind.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.114.24)

उत्सार्यमाणांस्तान्दृष्ट्वा समन्ताज्जातसम्भ्रमान् । दाक्षिण्यात्तदमर्षाच्च वारयामास राघवः ॥ 114.24 ॥

utsāryamāṇāṃstāndṛṣṭvā samantājjātasambhramān | dākṣiṇyāttadamarṣācca vārayāmāsa rāghavaḥ || 114.24 ||

Seeing them thrown into confusion on every side as they were driven back, Raghava, moved by both compassion and displeasure, put a stop to it.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.114.25)

संरब्धश्चाब्रवीद्रामश्चक्षुषा प्रदहन्निव । विभीषणं महाप्राज्ञं सोपालम्भमिदं वचः ॥ 114.25 ॥

saṃrabdhaścābravīdrāmaścakṣuṣā pradahanniva | vibhīṣaṇaṃ mahāprājñaṃ sopālambhamidaṃ vacaḥ || 114.25 ||

Angered, his eyes as if burning, Rama spoke these reproachful words to the wise Vibhishana.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.114.26)

किमर्थं मामनादृत्य क्लिश्यतेऽयं त्वया जनः । निवर्तयैनमुद्वेगं जनोऽयं स्वजनो मम ॥ 114.26 ॥

kimarthaṃ māmanādṛtya kliśyate'yaṃ tvayā janaḥ | nivartayainamudvegaṃ jano'yaṃ svajano mama || 114.26 ||

"Why, disregarding me, do you harass these people? Stop this agitation — these people are my own."

Shloka 27 (yuddha.114.27)

न गृहाणि न वस्त्राणि न प्राकारस्तिरस्क्रिया । नेदृशा राजसत्कारा वृत्तमावरणं स्त्रियाः ॥ 114.27 ॥

na gṛhāṇi na vastrāṇi na prākārastiraskriyā | nedṛśā rājasatkārā vṛttamāvaraṇaṃ striyāḥ || 114.27 ||

"Neither houses, nor garments, nor walls, nor concealment, nor such royal honors are a woman's true shield — her own conduct is her protection."

Shloka 28 (yuddha.114.28)

व्यसनेषु न कृच्छ्रेषु न युद्धे न स्वयं वरे । न क्रतौ नो विवाहे च दर्शनं दुष्यते स्त्रियाः ॥ 114.28 ॥

vyasaneṣu na kṛcchreṣu na yuddhe na svayaṃ vare | na kratau no vivāhe ca darśanaṃ duṣyate striyāḥ || 114.28 ||

"A woman's being seen in public is no fault — not in adversity, not in hardship, not in war, not at her own svayamvara, not at a sacrifice, and not at a wedding."

Shloka 29 (yuddha.114.29)

सैषा युद्धगता चैव कृच्छ्रे महति च स्थिता । दर्शनेऽस्या न दोषः स्यान्मत्समीपे विशेषतः ॥ 114.29 ॥

saiṣā yuddhagatā caiva kṛcchre mahati ca sthitā | darśane'syā na doṣaḥ syānmatsamīpe viśeṣataḥ || 114.29 ||

"This woman here has passed through war and has stood amid great hardship; there can be no fault in her being seen, least of all in my presence."

Shloka 30 (yuddha.114.30)

विसृज्य शिबिकां तस्मात्पद्भ्यामेवोपसर्पतु । समीपे मम वैदेहीं पश्यन्त्वेते वनौकसः ॥ 114.30 ॥

visṛjya śibikāṃ tasmātpadbhyāmevopasarpatu | samīpe mama vaidehīṃ paśyantvete vanaukasaḥ || 114.30 ||

"Therefore let her leave the palanquin and come on foot. Let these forest-dwellers see Vaidehi here beside me."

Shloka 31 (yuddha.114.31)

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण सविमर्शो विभीषणः । रामस्योपानयत् सीतां संनिकर्षं विनीतवत् ॥ 114.31 ॥

evamuktastu rāmeṇa savimarśo vibhīṣaṇaḥ | rāmasyopānayat sītāṃ saṃnikarṣaṃ vinītavat || 114.31 ||

Thus commanded by Rama, the thoughtful Vibhishana humbly brought Sita into Rama's presence.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.114.32)

ततो लक्ष्मणसुग्रीवौ हनूमांश्च प्लवङ्गमः । निशम्य वाक्यं रामस्य बभूवुर्व्यथिता भृशम् ॥ 114.32 ॥

tato lakṣmaṇasugrīvau hanūmāṃśca plavaṅgamaḥ | niśamya vākyaṃ rāmasya babhūvurvyathitā bhṛśam || 114.32 ||

Then Lakshmana, Sugriva, and Hanuman the vanara, hearing Rama's words, were struck with deep unease.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.114.33)

कलत्रनिरपेक्षैश्च इङ्गितैरस्य दारुणैः । अप्रीतमिव सीतायां तर्कयन्ति स्म राघवम् ॥ 114.33 ॥

kalatranirapekṣaiśca iṅgitairasya dāruṇaiḥ | aprītamiva sītāyāṃ tarkayanti sma rāghavam || 114.33 ||

From his harsh manner, so indifferent toward his own wife, they surmised that Raghava must be displeased with Sita.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.114.34)

लज्जया त्ववलीयन्ती स्वेषु गात्रेषु मैथिली । विभीषणेनानुगता भर्तारं साभ्यवर्तत ॥ 114.34 ॥

lajjayā tvavalīyantī sveṣu gātreṣu maithilī | vibhīṣaṇenānugatā bhartāraṃ sābhyavartata || 114.34 ||

Maithili, shrinking into herself with modesty, followed by Vibhishana, approached her husband.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.114.35)

विस्मयाच्च प्रहर्षाच्च स्नेहाच्च पतिदेवता । उदैक्षत मुखं भर्तुः सौम्यं सौम्यतरानना ॥ 114.35 ॥

vismayācca praharṣācca snehācca patidevatā | udaikṣata mukhaṃ bhartuḥ saumyaṃ saumyatarānanā || 114.35 ||

That gentle-faced lady, who regarded her husband as her deity, gazed upon his serene face with wonder, joy, and love.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.114.36)

अथ समपनुदन्मनःक्लमं सा । सुचिरमदृष्टमुदीक्ष्य वै प्रियस्य । वदनमुदितपूर्णचन्द्रकान्तं । विमलशशाङ्कनिभानना तदाऽऽसीत् ॥ 114.36 ॥

atha samapanudanmanaḥklamaṃ sā | suciramadṛṣṭamudīkṣya vai priyasya | vadanamuditapūrṇacandrakāntaṃ | vimalaśaśāṅkanibhānanā tadā''sīt || 114.36 ||

Then, beholding at last the face of her beloved, unseen for so long yet lovely as the rising full moon, she -- her own countenance like the spotless moon -- cast off all the weariness of her heart.