Sita's Lament

Shloka 1 (yuddha.32.1)

सा सीता तच्चिरो दृष्ट्वा तच् च कार्मुकम् उत्तमम् । । सुग्रीव प्रतिसंसर्गम् आख्यातम् च हनूमता । ॥ 32.1 ॥

sā sītā tacciro dṛṣṭvā tac ca kārmukam uttamam | | sugrīva pratisaṃsargam ākhyātam ca hanūmatā | || 32.1 ||

That Sita, having seen that head and that excellent bow, and the account of the friendship with Sugriva as told by Hanuman -

Shloka 2 (yuddha.32.2)

नयने मुख वर्णम् च भर्तुस् तत् सदृशम् मुखम् । केशान् केश अन्त देशम् च तम् च चूडा मणिम् शुभम् । ॥ 32.2 ॥

nayane mukha varṇam ca bhartus tat sadṛśam mukham | keśān keśa anta deśam ca tam ca cūḍā maṇim śubham | || 32.2 ||

- the eyes, the facial hue, that face resembling her husband's, the hair, the line of the hairline, and that auspicious crest-jewel -

Shloka 3 (yuddha.32.3)

एतैह् सर्वैर् अभिज्नानैर् अभिज्नाय सुदुःखिता । विजगर्हे अथ कैकेयीम् क्रोशन्ती कुररी यथा । ॥ 32.3 ॥

etaih sarvair abhijnānair abhijnāya suduḥkhitā | vijagarhe atha kaikeyīm krośantī kurarī yathā | || 32.3 ||

- recognizing him by all these signs, she was overcome with grief, and crying out like an osprey, she began to revile Kaikeyi:

Shloka 4 (yuddha.32.4)

सकामा भव कैकेयि हतो अयम् कुल नन्दनः । कुलम् उत्सादितम् सर्वम् त्वया कलह शीलया । ॥ 32.4 ॥

sakāmā bhava kaikeyi hato ayam kula nandanaḥ | kulam utsāditam sarvam tvayā kalaha śīlayā | || 32.4 ||

"Be satisfied now, O Kaikeyi! This joy of our house has been slain. By you, of quarrelsome nature, the entire dynasty has been ruined.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.32.5)

आर्येण किम् नु कैकेय्याः कृतम् रामेण विप्रियम् । यन्मया चीर वसनम् दत्त्वा प्रस्थापितो वनम् । ॥ 32.5 ॥

āryeṇa kim nu kaikeyyāḥ kṛtam rāmeṇa vipriyam | yanmayā cīra vasanam dattvā prasthāpito vanam | || 32.5 ||

What wrong, indeed, did the noble Rama ever do to Kaikeyi, that you gave him bark-garments and sent him away to the forest, taking me along?"

Shloka 6 (yuddha.32.6)

एवम् उक्त्वा तु वैदेही वेपमाना तपस्विनी । जगाम जगतीम् बाला चिन्ना तु कदली यथा । ॥ 32.6 ॥

evam uktvā tu vaidehī vepamānā tapasvinī | jagāma jagatīm bālā cinnā tu kadalī yathā | || 32.6 ||

Having spoken thus, the wretched Vaidehi, that trembling girl, sank to the ground, like a plantain tree that has been cut down.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.32.7)

सा मुहूर्तात् समाश्वस्य प्रतिलभ्य च चेतनाम् । तत् शिरह् समुपाघ्राय विललाप आयत ईक्षणा । ॥ 32.7 ॥

sā muhūrtāt samāśvasya pratilabhya ca cetanām | tat śirah samupāghrāya vilalāpa āyata īkṣaṇā | || 32.7 ||

In a moment she was comforted and regained her senses; then, drawing near to that head, the wide-eyed one gave voice to her lament.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.32.8)

हा हता अस्मि महा बाहो वीर व्रतम् अनुव्रता । इमाम् ते पश्चिम अवस्थाम् गता अस्मि विधवा कृता । ॥ 32.8 ॥

hā hatā asmi mahā bāho vīra vratam anuvratā | imām te paścima avasthām gatā asmi vidhavā kṛtā | || 32.8 ||

"Alas, I am slain, O mighty-armed one, follower of the hero's vow! I have witnessed this, your final state - I have been made a widow.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.32.9)

प्रथमम् मरणम् नार्या भर्तुर् वैगुण्यम् उच्यते । सुवृत्तः साधु वृत्तायाः सम्वृत्तस् त्वम् मम अग्रतः । ॥ 32.9 ॥

prathamam maraṇam nāryā bhartur vaiguṇyam ucyate | suvṛttaḥ sādhu vṛttāyāḥ samvṛttas tvam mama agrataḥ | || 32.9 ||

It is said that a wife's greatest misfortune is the early death of her husband. You, of such good conduct, have gone before me, though I too kept faith.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.32.10)

महद् दुःखम् प्रपन्नाया मग्नायाः शोक सागरे । यो हि माम् उद्यतस् त्रातुम् सो अपि त्वम् विनिपातितः । ॥ 32.10 ॥

mahad duḥkham prapannāyā magnāyāḥ śoka sāgare | yo hi mām udyatas trātum so api tvam vinipātitaḥ | || 32.10 ||

You, who came forward to save me, sunk as I am in an ocean of grief and fallen into great sorrow - even you have been struck down.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.32.11)

सा श्वश्रूर् मम कौसल्या त्वया पुत्रेण राघव । वत्सेन इव यथा धेनुर् विवत्सा वत्सला कृता । ॥ 32.11 ॥

sā śvaśrūr mama kausalyā tvayā putreṇa rāghava | vatsena iva yathā dhenur vivatsā vatsalā kṛtā | || 32.11 ||

O Raghava, that Kausalya, my mother-in-law, who cherished you so tenderly, has by you, her own son, been left without a calf, like a cow that has lost its young.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.32.12)

उदिष्टम् दीर्घम् आयुस् ते दैवज्ञैरपि राघव । अनृतम् वचनम् तेषाम् अल्प आयुर् असि राघव । ॥ 32.12 ॥

udiṣṭam dīrgham āyus te daivajñairapi rāghava | anṛtam vacanam teṣām alpa āyur asi rāghava | || 32.12 ||

It was foretold, O Raghava, even by those versed in astrology, that your span of life was long. O Raghava, their words have proved false - you were short-lived indeed.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.32.13)

अथ वा नश्यति प्रज्ना प्राज्नस्य अपि सतस् तव । पचत्य् एनम् तथा कालो भूतानाम् प्रभवो ह्ययम् । ॥ 32.13 ॥

atha vā naśyati prajnā prājnasya api satas tava | pacaty enam tathā kālo bhūtānām prabhavo hyayam | || 32.13 ||

Or else, wisdom itself perishes even in one who is wise, since Time, the origin of all beings, thus consumes even such a one as you.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.32.14)

अदृष्टम् मृत्युम् आपन्नः कस्मात् त्वम् नय शास्त्रवित् । व्यसनानाम् उपायज्नः कुशलो ह्यसि वर्जने । ॥ 32.14 ॥

adṛṣṭam mṛtyum āpannaḥ kasmāt tvam naya śāstravit | vyasanānām upāyajnaḥ kuśalo hyasi varjane | || 32.14 ||

How could you, O knower of the science of statecraft, skilled as you were in warding off calamity and versed in every remedy, have met with so unforeseen a death?

Shloka 15 (yuddha.32.15)

तथा त्वम् सम्परिष्वज्य रौद्रया अतिनृशंसया । काल रात्र्या मया आच्चिद्य हृतः कमल लोचन । ॥ 32.15 ॥

tathā tvam sampariṣvajya raudrayā atinṛśaṃsayā | kāla rātryā mayā āccidya hṛtaḥ kamala locana | || 32.15 ||

Thus, O lotus-eyed one, you were seized and torn away from me by the dreadful, most merciless night of all-destroying Time, and carried off.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.32.16)

इह शेषे महा बाहो माम् विहाय तपस्विनीम् । प्रियाम् इव शुभाम् नारीम् पृथिवीम् पुरुष ऋषभ । ॥ 32.16 ॥

iha śeṣe mahā bāho mām vihāya tapasvinīm | priyām iva śubhām nārīm pṛthivīm puruṣa ṛṣabha | || 32.16 ||

Here you lie, O mighty-armed, O bull among men, having abandoned me, the wretched one, embracing the earth as though she were your beloved.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.32.17)

अर्चितम् सततम् यत्नाद् गन्ध माल्यैर् मया तव । इदम् ते मत् प्रियम् वीर धनुः कान्चन भूषितम् । ॥ 32.17 ॥

arcitam satatam yatnād gandha mālyair mayā tava | idam te mat priyam vīra dhanuḥ kāncana bhūṣitam | || 32.17 ||

Here, O hero, is your bow, ever worshipped diligently by me with sandal-paste and garlands - this bow so dear to you, adorned with gold.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.32.18)

पित्रा दशरथेन त्वम् श्वशुरेण मम अनघ । सर्वैः च पितृभिः सार्धम् नूनम् स्वर्गे समागतः । ॥ 32.18 ॥

pitrā daśarathena tvam śvaśureṇa mama anagha | sarvaiḥ ca pitṛbhiḥ sārdham nūnam svarge samāgataḥ | || 32.18 ||

O sinless one, surely you have now met in heaven with my father-in-law, your father Dasharatha, and all the manes together with him.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.32.19)

दिवि नक्षत्र भूतस् त्वम् महत् कर्म कृतम् प्रियम् । पुण्यम् राज ऋषि वंशम् त्वम् आत्मनः समुपेक्षसे । ॥ 32.19 ॥

divi nakṣatra bhūtas tvam mahat karma kṛtam priyam | puṇyam rāja ṛṣi vaṃśam tvam ātmanaḥ samupekṣase | || 32.19 ||

You who became a very star in heaven through this great deed - and yet you take no heed of your own sacred lineage of royal seers.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.32.20)

किम् मान् न प्रेक्षसे राजन् किम् माम् न प्रतिभाषसे । बालाम् बालेन सम्प्राप्ताम् भार्याम् माम् सह चारिणीम् । ॥ 32.20 ॥

kim mān na prekṣase rājan kim mām na pratibhāṣase | bālām bālena samprāptām bhāryām mām saha cāriṇīm | || 32.20 ||

O king, why do you not look at me? Why do you not answer me, your wife who has walked beside you since I came to you as a girl to your boyhood?

Shloka 21 (yuddha.32.21)

संश्रुतम् गृह्णता पाणिम् चरिष्यामि इति यत् त्वया । स्मर तन् मम काकुत्स्थ नय माम् अपि दुःखिताम् । ॥ 32.21 ॥

saṃśrutam gṛhṇatā pāṇim cariṣyāmi iti yat tvayā | smara tan mama kākutstha naya mām api duḥkhitām | || 32.21 ||

Remember, O Kakutstha, that vow you made while taking my hand: "I shall live rightly with you." Take me too, wretched as I am.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.32.22)

कस्मान् माम् अपहाय त्वम् गतो गतिमताम् वर । अस्माल् लोकाद् अमुम् लोकम् त्यक्त्वा माम् इह दुःखिताम् । ॥ 32.22 ॥

kasmān mām apahāya tvam gato gatimatām vara | asmāl lokād amum lokam tyaktvā mām iha duḥkhitām | || 32.22 ||

For what reason, O best of all who move, have you left me and gone from this world to that other world, leaving me here in sorrow?

Shloka 23 (yuddha.32.23)

कल्याणैर् उचितम् यत् तत् परिष्वक्तम् मया एव तु । क्रव्य अदैस् तत् शरीरम् ते नूनम् विपरिकृष्यते । ॥ 32.23 ॥

kalyāṇair ucitam yat tat pariṣvaktam mayā eva tu | kravya adais tat śarīram te nūnam viparikṛṣyate | || 32.23 ||

That very body which I alone embraced with auspicious care is now, without doubt, being dragged about by beasts of prey.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.32.24)

अग्निष्तोम आदिभिर् यज्नैर् इष्टवान् आप्त दक्षिणैः । अग्नि होत्रेण संस्कारम् केन त्वम् तु न लप्स्यसे । ॥ 32.24 ॥

agniṣtoma ādibhir yajnair iṣṭavān āpta dakṣiṇaiḥ | agni hotreṇa saṃskāram kena tvam tu na lapsyase | || 32.24 ||

Why do you not now obtain the rite of consecration by sacred fire, you who worshipped with offerings such as the Agnishtoma, generously furnished with gifts?

Shloka 25 (yuddha.32.25)

प्रव्रज्याम् उपपन्नानाम् त्रयाणाम् एकम् आगतम् । परिप्रक्ष्यति कौसल्या लक्ष्मणम् शोक लालसा । ॥ 32.25 ॥

pravrajyām upapannānām trayāṇām ekam āgatam | pariprakṣyati kausalyā lakṣmaṇam śoka lālasā | || 32.25 ||

Kausalya, consumed by grief, will surely question Lakshmana, the one of the three who has returned from exile,

Shloka 26 (yuddha.32.26)

स तस्याः परिपृच्चन्त्या वधम् मित्र बलस्य ते । तव च आख्यास्यते नूनम् निशायाम् राक्षसैर् वधम् । ॥ 32.26 ॥

sa tasyāḥ paripṛccantyā vadham mitra balasya te | tava ca ākhyāsyate nūnam niśāyām rākṣasair vadham | || 32.26 ||

and he will surely relate to her, when she asks, of your slaying and of the killing at night of the army of your ally by the demons.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.32.27)

सा त्वाम् सुप्तम् हतम् श्रुत्वा माम् च रक्षो गृहम् गताम् । हृदयेन विदीर्णेन न भविष्यति राघव । ॥ 32.27 ॥

sā tvām suptam hatam śrutvā mām ca rakṣo gṛham gatām | hṛdayena vidīrṇena na bhaviṣyati rāghava | || 32.27 ||

Hearing, O Raghava, that you were slain in your sleep, and that I have been carried off to the house of demons, she will not survive - her heart will break.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.32.28)

मम हेतोरनार्याया अवघः पार्थिवात्मजः । रामः सागमुत्तीर्य वीर्यवान् गोष्पदे हतः । ॥ 32.28 ॥

mama hetoranāryāyā avaghaḥ pārthivātmajaḥ | rāmaḥ sāgamuttīrya vīryavān goṣpade hataḥ | || 32.28 ||

For my sake, the blameless and mighty prince Rama, having crossed the ocean, was slain in a mere puddle of water.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.32.29)

अहम् दाशरथेनोढा मोहात्स्वकुपांसनी । आर्यपुत्रस्य रामस्य भार्या मृत्युरजायत । ॥ 32.29 ॥

aham dāśarathenoḍhā mohātsvakupāṃsanī | āryaputrasya rāmasya bhāryā mṛtyurajāyata | || 32.29 ||

I, the disgrace of my own lineage, was wedded by the son of Dasharatha through some delusion; I, the wife, have become the very death of the noble Rama.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.32.30)

नूनमन्याम् मया जातिम् वारितम् दानमुत्तमम् । याहमद्येह शोचामि भार्या सर्वातिथेरपि । ॥ 32.30 ॥

nūnamanyām mayā jātim vāritam dānamuttamam | yāhamadyeha śocāmi bhāryā sarvātitherapi | || 32.30 ||

Surely in some other birth I refused a worthy gift, that today I, though the wife of one who honored every guest, must grieve like this.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.32.31)

साधु पातय माम् क्षिप्रम् रामस्य उपरि रावण । समानय पतिम् पत्न्या कुरु कल्याणम् उत्तमम् । ॥ 32.31 ॥

sādhu pātaya mām kṣipram rāmasya upari rāvaṇa | samānaya patim patnyā kuru kalyāṇam uttamam | || 32.31 ||

O Ravana, strike me down at once, rightly, upon Rama's body. Reunite this wife with her husband - perform this most excellent, auspicious deed.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.32.32)

शिरसा मे शिरसः च अस्य कायम् कायेन योजय । रावण अनुगमिष्यामि गतिम् भर्तुर् महात्मनः । ॥ 32.32 ॥

śirasā me śirasaḥ ca asya kāyam kāyena yojaya | rāvaṇa anugamiṣyāmi gatim bhartur mahātmanaḥ | || 32.32 ||

Join my head to this head, and my body to this body, O Ravana - I shall follow the path of my great-souled lord."

Shloka 33 (yuddha.32.33)

इति सा दुःख सम्तप्ता विललाप आयत ईक्षणा । भर्तुः शिरो धनुस् तत्र समीक्ष्य जनक आत्मजा । ॥ 32.33 ॥

iti sā duḥkha samtaptā vilalāpa āyata īkṣaṇā | bhartuḥ śiro dhanus tatra samīkṣya janaka ātmajā | || 32.33 ||

Thus, consumed with grief, the wide-eyed daughter of Janaka lamented, gazing there upon her husband's head and bow.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.32.34)

एवम् लालप्यमानायाम् सीतायाम् तत्र राक्षसः । अभिचक्राम भर्तारम् अनीकस्थः क्ऱ्त अन्जलिः । ॥ 32.34 ॥

evam lālapyamānāyām sītāyām tatra rākṣasaḥ | abhicakrāma bhartāram anīkasthaḥ kऱ्ta anjaliḥ | || 32.34 ||

While Sita was thus lamenting there, a demon, a sentry of the guard, approached his lord with joined palms in salutation,

Shloka 35 (yuddha.32.35)

विजयस्व आर्य पुत्र इति सो अभिवाद्य प्रसाद्य च । न्यवेदयद् अनुप्राप्तम् प्रहस्तम् वाहिनी पतिम् । ॥ 32.35 ॥

vijayasva ārya putra iti so abhivādya prasādya ca | nyavedayad anuprāptam prahastam vāhinī patim | || 32.35 ||

and, with the greeting "Victory to you, O noble one!" - having thus saluted and pleased him - announced that Prahasta, the army commander, had arrived.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.32.36)

अमात्यैः स हितः सर्वैः प्रहस्तस्त्वामुपस्थितः । तेन दर्शनकामेन अहम् प्रस्थापितः प्रभो । ॥ 32.36 ॥

amātyaiḥ sa hitaḥ sarvaiḥ prahastastvāmupasthitaḥ | tena darśanakāmena aham prasthāpitaḥ prabho | || 32.36 ||

"Prahasta stands before you, O lord, together with all your ministers. Eager to see you, he has sent me to you.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.32.37)

मानमस्ति महारा ज राजभावात् क्षमान्वित । किंचिद् आत्ययिकम् कार्यम् तेषाम् त्वम् दर्शनम् कुरु । ॥ 32.37 ॥

mānamasti mahārā ja rājabhāvāt kṣamānvita | kiṃcid ātyayikam kāryam teṣām tvam darśanam kuru | || 32.37 ||

O great king, forbearing one, there is a matter of some urgency touching your royal duty - grant them audience now."

Shloka 38 (yuddha.32.38)

एतत् श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवो राक्षस प्रतिवेदितम् । अशोक वनिकाम् त्यक्त्वा मन्त्रिणाम् दर्शनम् ययौ । ॥ 32.38 ॥

etat śrutvā daśagrīvo rākṣasa prativeditam | aśoka vanikām tyaktvā mantriṇām darśanam yayau | || 32.38 ||

Hearing this report of the demon, the ten-necked Ravana left the Ashoka grove and went to give audience to his ministers.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.32.39)

स तु सर्वम् समर्थ्य एव मन्त्रिभिः क्ऱ्त्यम् आत्मनः । सभाम् प्रविश्य विदधे विदित्वा राम विक्रमम् । ॥ 32.39 ॥

sa tu sarvam samarthya eva mantribhiḥ kऱ्tyam ātmanaḥ | sabhām praviśya vidadhe viditvā rāma vikramam | || 32.39 ||

Having deliberated fully with his ministers on what was to be done, and having taken the measure of Rama's strength, he entered the assembly hall and gave his orders.

Shloka 40 (yuddha.32.40)

अन्तर्धानम् तु तत् शीर्षम् तच् च कार्मुकम् उत्तमम् । जगाम रावणस्य एव निर्याण समनन्तरम् । ॥ 32.40 ॥

antardhānam tu tat śīrṣam tac ca kārmukam uttamam | jagāma rāvaṇasya eva niryāṇa samanantaram | || 32.40 ||

Immediately upon Ravana's departure, that head and that excellent bow vanished away.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.32.41)

राक्षस इन्द्रस् तु तैः सार्धम् मन्त्रिभिर् भीम विक्रमैः । समर्थयाम् आस तदा राम कार्य विनिश्चयम् । ॥ 32.41 ॥

rākṣasa indras tu taiḥ sārdham mantribhir bhīma vikramaiḥ | samarthayām āsa tadā rāma kārya viniścayam | || 32.41 ||

Then the lord of demons, together with those ministers of fearsome prowess, resolved upon the plan of action to be taken against Rama.

Shloka 42 (yuddha.32.42)

अविदूर स्थितान् सर्वान् बल अध्यक्षान् हित एषिणः । अब्रवीत् काल सद्ऱ्शो रावणो राक्षस अधिपः । ॥ 32.42 ॥

avidūra sthitān sarvān bala adhyakṣān hita eṣiṇaḥ | abravīt kāla sadऱ्śo rāvaṇo rākṣasa adhipaḥ | || 32.42 ||

Ravana, the lord of demons, resembling Time itself, addressed all the army commanders standing nearby, well-wishers that they were:

Shloka 43 (yuddha.32.43)

शीघ्रम् भेरी निनादेन स्फुट कोण आहतेन मे । समानयध्वम् सैन्यानि वक्तव्यम् च न कारणम् । ॥ 32.43 ॥

śīghram bherī ninādena sphuṭa koṇa āhatena me | samānayadhvam sainyāni vaktavyam ca na kāraṇam | || 32.43 ||

"At once, with the loud beat of the war-drum struck clearly by the drumstick, muster all my forces - and give no explanation for it."

Shloka 44 (yuddha.32.44)

ततस् तथा इति प्रतिगृह्य तद् वचो । स्तदैव दूताः सहसा महाद्बलम् । समानयंसः चैव समागतम् च ते । न्यवेदयन् भर्तरि युद्ध कान्क्षिणि । ॥ 32.44 ॥

tatas tathā iti pratigṛhya tad vaco | stadaiva dūtāḥ sahasā mahādbalam | samānayaṃsaḥ caiva samāgatam ca te | nyavedayan bhartari yuddha kānkṣiṇi | || 32.44 ||

Then the messengers, accepting his command with "So be it," at once gathered together that great army, and reported to their lord, eager for battle, that it had assembled.