Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

Chapter [Sarga] 47
Verses converted to UTF-8, Nov 09

Introduction

Ravana summons some female demons including Trijata and instructs them to take Seetha in Pushpaka-plane to the battle-front and show Rama and Lakshmana alleged to have been killed by Indrajit. Accordingly, the female-demons take Seetha in Pushpaka-plane and show her Rama and Lakshmana lying unconscious on a bed of arrows in the battle-field. Imagining Rama and Lakshmana to have been dead, Seetha bursts into sobs.

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tasmin pratipraviShTe lankaam tu kR^ita arthe raavaNa aatmaje |
raaghavam parivaarya aartaa rarakShur vaanara R^iShabhaaH || 6-47-1

1. tasmin = (while) that; raavaNaatmaja = Indrajit; the son of Ravana; kR^itaarthe = accomplished his purpose; praviSTe = and entered; laN^kaayaam = Lanka; vaanaraSabhaaH = the leading mokeys; atha = then; parivaarya = having surrounded; raaghavam = Rama; rarakSuH = and protected him.

Indrajit, the son of Ravana having returned to Lanka, his purpose accomplished, the leading monkeys surrounded Rama in order to watch over him.

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hanuumaan angado niilah suSheNah kumudo nalaH |
gajo gava akSho gavayah sharabho gandha maadanaH || 6-47-2
jaambavaan R^iShabhah sundo rambhah shata balih pR^ithuH |
vyuuDha aniikaash ca yattaash ca drumaan aadaaya sarvataH || 6-47-3
viikShamaaNaa dishah sarvaas tiryag uurdhvam ca vaanaraaH |
tR^iNeShv api ca ceShTatsu raakShasaa;iti menire || 6-47-4

2; 3; 4. hanuman = Hanuman; aN^gadaH = Angada; NiilaH = Nila; suSeNaH = Sushena; kumudaH = Kumuda; nalaH = Nala; gajaH = Gaja; gavaakSaH = Gavaksha; panasaH = Panasa; mahaa hariH = the mighty monkey; saanaprasthaH = Sanuprastha; jaambavaan = Jambavan; R^iSabhaH = Rishabha; sunaH = Sunda; rambhaH = Rmaba; shatabaliH = Shatabali; pR^ithuH = Prithu; vaanaraaH = (these) monkeys; aadaaya = armed with; drumaan = trees; vyuuDhaaniikaaH = reorganized their ranks; sarvataH = on all sides;yathaashcha = alert; viikSamaaNaaH = surveyed; dishaH = the quarters of the sky; uurdhvam cha = upwards; tiryak = and horizontally; sarvataH = and on every side; tR^iNeSvapi = and even if a grass; cheSTatsu = stirred; menire = (they) exclaimed; raakSasaaH iti = "It is a demon!"

Hanuman, Angada, Nila, Sushena, Kumuda, Nala, Gaja, Gavaksha, Panasa, Sanuprastha and the mighty Jambavan with Sunda, Rambha, Shatabali and Prithu all these monkeys, armed with trees, reorganized their ranks, stood alert, surveyed the quarters of the sky up and down and on every side and, even if a grass stirred, they exclaimed, "It is a demon!"

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raavaNash ca api samhR^iShTo visR^ijya indrajitam sutam |
aajuhaava tatah siitaa rakShaNii raakShasiis tadaa || 6-47-5

5. raavaNashchaapi = Ravana too; samhR^iSTaH = full of joy; visR^ijya = dismissed; sutam = his son; indrajitam = Indrajit; tataH = and thereafter; aajuhaava = summoned; raakSasiiH = the female-demons; siitaa raakSaNiiH = who guarded Seetha; tadaa = then.

Ravana, meanwhile, full of joy, dismissed his son Indrajit and thereafter summoned the female demons who guarded Seetha.

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raakShasyas trijaTaa ca api shaasanaat tam upasthitaaH |
taa uvaaca tato hR^iShTo raakShasii raakShasa iishvaraH || 6-47-6

6. shaasanaat = as per his orders; raakSasyaH = the female-demons; trijaTaa chaapi = along with Trijata; upasthitaaH = appeared; tam = before him; tataH = then; hR^iSTaH = the rejoiced; raakSasaadhipaH = Ravana; uvaacha = spoke; taaH raakSasaadhipaH = Ravana; uvaacha = spoke; taaH raakSasiiH = to those female-demons (as follows)

Following his orders, the female-demons along with Trijata appeared before him. Then, the rejoiced Ravana said to them as follows:

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hataav indrajitaa aakhyaata vaidehyaa raama lakShmaNau |
puShpakam ca samaaropya darshayadhvam hatau raNe || 6-47-7

7. aakhyaata = tell; vaidehyaaH = Seetha; raama lakSmaNau = that Rama and Lakshmana; hatau = have been killed; indrajitaa = by Indrajit; samaaropya = having made to ascend; tat = that; puSpakam = aeroplane; Pushpaka; darshayadhvam = show; hatau = Rama and Lakshmana; killed; raNe = in battle.

"Tell Seetha that Rama and Lakshmana have been killed by Indrajit. Take her in Pushpaka the aeroplane and show her Rama and Lakshman who were killed in battle."

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yad aashrayaad avaShTabdho na iyam maam upatiShThati |
so asyaa bhartaa saha bhraatraa nirasto raNa muurdhani || 6-47-8

8. yadaashrayaat = on whose shelter; iyam = she; avaSTabdhaa = feels proud; na upatiSThate = and does not come near; maam = me; saH = that; asyaaH bhartaaH = her husband; nihataH = was killed; bhraatraa saha = along with his brother; raNamuurdhani = in the battle-front.

"Her husband, the one depending on whom rendered her so proud that she refused to be united with me, lies there killed with his brother in the battle-front."

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nirvishankaa nirudvignaa nirapekShaa ca maithilii |
maam upasthaasyate siitaa sarva aabharaNa bhuuShitaa || 6-47-9

9. siitaa = Seetha; maithilii = the princess of Mithila; sarvaabharaNa bhuuSitaa = adorned herself with all kinds of ornaments; upasthaasyate = willl submit before; maam = me; nirvishankaa = without any apprehension; nirudvignaa = without grief; nirapekSaa = and without any hope of reunion.

"From now on, free from anxiety, grief and expectation of reunion, Seetha the princess of Mithila kingdom, adorned in all her jewels, will submit herself to me."

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adya kaala vasham praaptam raNe raamam salakShmaNam |
avekShya vinivR^itta aashaa na anyaam gatim apashyatii || 6-47-10
anapekShaa vishaalaakShii maamupasthasyate svayam |

10. avekSya = beholding; raamam = Rama; salakSmaNam = with Lakshmana; gatam = having obtained; kaalavasham = the dominion of death; adya = today; saa = she; vishaalaakSii = the large-eyed woman; vinivR^ittaa = will return; upasthaasyate = and submit before; maam = me; svayam = herself; apashyatii = without finding; anyaam = any other; gatim = haven; anapekSaa = and hoping for nothing else .

"Beholding Rama and Lakshmana fallen under the sway of death on the battle-field today, finding no other haven and hoping for nothing else, the large-eyed Seetha will voluntarily seek refuge with me!"

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tasya tad vacanam shrutvaa raavaNasya duraatmanaH || 6-47-11
raakShasyas taas tathaa ity uktvaa prajagmur yatra puShpakam |

11. shrutvaa = hearing; tat vachanam = that command; tasya raavaNasya = of that Ravana; duraatmanaH = the curel demon; taaH raakSasya = those female-demons; uktvaa = having replied; tathaa iti = "so it be"; jagmuH vai = and went; yatra = there; where; puSpakam = Pushpaka-plane was there.

Hearing these words of the cruel Ravana, they all replied, "Be it so" and went to where the Pushpaka chariot was.

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tataH puShpakam aadaya raakShasyo raavaNa aajnayaa || 6-47-12
ashoka vanikaasthaam taam maithiliim samupaanayan |

12. tataH = thereafter; raakSasyaH = the female-demons; aadaaya = brought; puSpakam = the aerial car; Pushpaka; raamaNaajJNayaa = as per the instructions of Ravana; samupaanayan = and carried it near; taam = tat; maithiliim = Seetha; ashokavanikaa; samsthaam = who was staying in Ashoka grove.

Thereafter, the female-demons brought the aerial car, Pushpaka as per the instructions of Ravana and carried it nearer to Seetha who was staying in Ashoka-grove.

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taam aadaaya tu raakShasyo bhartR^i shoka paraayaNaam || 6-47-13
siitaam aaropayaam aasur vimaanam puShpakam tadaa |

13. tadaa = then; raakSasyaH = the female demons; aadaaya = brought; taam siitaam = that Seetha; bhartR^ishoka paraajitaam = who was afflicted with grief for her husband; aaropayaamaasuH = and made to ascend; puSpakam vimaanam = Pushpaka -plane.

The female-demons brought Seetha who was afflicted with grief for her husband and made her to ascend Pushpaka-plane.

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tataH puShpakam aaropya siitaam trijaTayaa saha || 6-47-14
jagmurdarshayituM tasyai raakShasyo raamalakShmaNau |

14. tataH = then; raakSasyaH = the female-demons; trijaTayaasaha = along with Trijata; aaropya siitaam = made Seetha to ascend; puSpakam = Pushpaka-plane; jagmuH = and proceeded; darshayitum = to show; tasyai = her; raama lakSmaNau = Rama and Lakshmana.

The female-demons along with Trijata made Seetha to ascend Pushpaka-plane and proceeded to show her Rama and Lakshmana.

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raavaNo akaarayal lankaam pataakaa dhvaja maaliniim || 6-47-15
praaghoShayata hR^iShTash ca lankaayaam raakShasa iishvaraH |
raaghavo lakShmaNash caiva hataav indrajitaa raNe || 6-47-16

15; 16. raavaNaH = Ravana; raakSaseshvaraH = the king of demons; hR^iSTaH = thrilled with rapture; kaarayaamaasa = made; laN^kaam = Lanka; pataaka dhvaja maaliniim = garlanded with flags and banners; praaghoSayata = and caused a proclamation; (to be made in Lanka); announcing that; raaghavaH = Rama; lakSmaNashcha = and Lakshmana; hatau = had been slain; raNe = in battle; indrajitaa = by Indrajit.

Ravana the king of demons, thrilled with rapture, caused Lanka to be garlanded with flags and banners and arranged a proclamation to be made in Lanka announcing that Rama and Lakshmana had been slain by Indrajit in battle.

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vimaanena api siitaa tu gatvaa trijaTayaa saha |
dadarsha vaanaraaNaam tu sarvam sinyam nipaatitam || 6-47-17

17. siitaa = Seetha; trijaTayaa saha = along with Trijata; gatvaa = went; vimaanena = by that plane; dadarsha = and saw; sarvam = all; vaanaraaNaam sainyam = the monkey-troops; nipaatitam = who had been slain.

Seetha along with Trijata, transported by that plane, saw all the monkey-troops who had been slain.

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prahR^iShTa manasash ca api dadarsha pishita ashanaan |
vaanaraa.nsh ca api duhkha aartaan raama lakShmaNa paarshvataH || 6-47-18

18. dadarsha = (Seetha) saw; pishitaashanaan = the demons; prahR^iSTamanasaH = who were delighted at heart; vaanaraamshcha = and monkeys; atiduHkhaartaan = who were disturbed with immense grief; raamalakSmaNa paarshvataH = by the side of Rama and Lakshmana.

Seetha saw the demons who were delighted at heart and monkeys disturbed with grief, standing round Rama and Lakshmana.

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tataH siitaa dadarsha ubhau shayaanau shata talpayoH |
lakShmaNam caiva raamam ca visamjnau shara piiDitau || 6-47-19
vidhvasta kavacau viirau vipraviddha shara aasanau |
saayakaish chinna sarva angau shara stambhamayau kShitau || 6-47-20

19; 20 tataH = then; siitaa = Seetha; dadarsha = beheld; ubhau viirau = those two warriors; raamam cha = Rama; lakSmaNamchaiva = and Lakshmana; shayanau = lying; shara piiDitau = pierced with arrows; visamjJNau = unconscious; shara piiDitau = riddled with weapons; vidhvasta kavachau = their armour shattered; vipraviddha sharaasanau = their bows thrown at a distance; chhinna sarvaaN^gau = their entire body transfixed; saayakaiH = by darts; sharastambamayau = on a bed of arrows; kSitau = on the ground.

Then, Seetha beheld those two warriors Rama and Lakshmana lying unconscious on the ground on a bed of arrows, their limbs pierced with arrows, riddled with weapons, their armour shattered, their bows cast aside at a distance and their entire body transfixed by darts.

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tau dR^iShTvaa bhraatarau tatra praviirau puruSha R^iShabhau |
shayaanau puNDariikaakShau kumaaraaviva paavakii || 6-47-21
sharatalpagatau viirau tathaabhuutau nararShabhau |
duhkha aartaa subhR^isham siitaa karuNam vilalaapa ha || 6-47-22

21; 22. dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; tau bhraatarau = those two brothers; praviirau = who were filled with valour; puNDariikaakSau = having lotus-eyes; puruSarSabhau = the excellent of men; shayanau sharatalpagatau = lying stretched on a bed of arrows; tatra = there; tathaa bhuutau = in that wretched plight; kumaaraaviva = like the two sons; paavakii = of the fire-god (shakha and Vishakha) (lying on a bed of reeds); siitaa = Seetha; vilalaapaha = wailed; karuNam = piteously; subhR^isham duHkhartaa = stricken with a great agony.

On seeing those two brothers, who were filled with valour, having lotus-eyes, the excellent of men, lying streteched on a bed of arrows there in that wretched plight like the two sons of the fire-god (Shkha and Vishakha) lying on a bed of reeds, Seetha wailed piteously, stricken as she was with a great agony.

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bhartaaramanavadyaaN^gii lakShmaNam chaasitekShaNaa |
prekShya paa.nsuShu cheShTantau ruroda janakaatmajaa || 6-47-23

23. asitekSaNaa = the dark-eyed; janakaatmajaa = Seetha the daughter of Janaka; anavadyaaNgii = with faultless limbs; prekSya = beholding; bharataaram = her lord; lakSmaNam cha = and Lakshmana; cheSTantau = lying paamsuSu = in the dust; ruroda = burst into sobs.

The dark-eyed Seetha the daughter of Janaka with her faultless limbs, beholding her lord and Lakshmana lying in the dust, burst into sobs.

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saa baaShpa shoka abhihataa samiikShya |
tau bhraatarau deva sama prabhaavau |
vitarkayantii nidhanam tayoh saa |
duhkha anvitaa vaakyam idam jagaada || 6-47-24

24. samiikSya = witnessing; tau bhraatarau = those brothers; devasuta prabhaavau = the prominent sons of god; saa = that Seetha; sabaaSpa shokaabhihataa = struck by grief with tears; vitarkayantii = believing; tayoH = their; nidhanam = death; jagaada = spoke; idam = these; vaakyam = words; duHkhaanvitaa = possessed with grief.

Witnessing those brothers, the prominent sons of god, Seetha afflicted with tearful sorrow, believing their death, spoke with grief the following words.

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ityaarShe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe saptachatvaari.nshaH sargaH

Thus completes 47th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

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© August 2005, K. M. K. Murthy