Introduction
Seetha reprimands Ravana in saying that her unswerving devotion to Rama will not permit her to be dominated by anyone. She gives word-by-word replies to all that is prattled by Ravana in earlier chapter. A discussion about Seetha’s stance and stability is given in the endnote of this chapter.
सा तथा उक्ता तु वैदेही निर्भया शोक कर्शिता |
तृणम् अन्तरतः कृत्वा रावणम् प्रति अभाषत || ३-५६-१
tR^iNam antarataH kR^itvaa raavaNam prati abhaaShata || 3-56-1
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.1
She that Vaidehi who is haggard by anguish boldly spoke to Ravana when he addressed her in that way, duly placing a blade of straw in between herself and Ravana. [3-56-1]
The place of conversation is a speckles palace and then where from a blade of straw is available to Seetha to place in between them – is the question. It is adjusted by saying that a straw blade stuck to her sari, which she removed and placed in between. Has she searched whole of sari, inch by inch, for a blade of straw that too to talk to a debased character – is its counter-question. Anyway she treated Ravana just as a worthless straw – is another viewpoint. Either way, ‘husband-devout’ wives do not chat with ‘the other’ males without making an improvised screen in between, may it be a half-veil, a door, or any other item that prevent the vilely ogles of others.
She is also said to be talking ‘boldly…’ where this boldness is the derivative of her self-assured ‘husband-devoutness.’ When this boldness is there why she is emaciated through sadness – is the collateral question. For this, it is said that her wailing is not for herself, but for her separation from Rama, coupled with her thinking about Rama’s miseries in forest, besides, due to the ambiguity about Lakshmana’s meeting with Rama or otherwise.
Tilaka says, ‘Seetha is aware of the curse of Ravana that his heads get splintered into pieces if he makes advances to any female without her consent, hence Seetha is talking fearlessly. And if Ravana tries to make any further advances, Seetha is ready to disappear, as is the practice with gods, or to become an untouchable entity, like a hologram…’ But this is negated, taking Seetha as a human level entity rather than an incarnation, saying that ‘human Seetha is unaware of Ravana himself, thus her becoming aware of his curse is untenable…’ Maybe, Goddess Lakshmi or Maya Seetha is aware of that curse of Ravana.
राजा दशरथो नाम धर्म सेतुः इव अचलः |
सत्य सन्धः परिज्ञातो यस्य पुत्रः स राघवः || ३-५६-२
satya sandhaH parij~naato yasya putraH sa raaghavaH || 3-56-2
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.2
“He whose son is Raghava, is a resolute king known as Dasharatha. That king is a kingly rampart for righteousness, a kingpin abiding in forthrightness and thereby his kingliness is well renowned in all worlds, and my husband Rama is such a king’s son. [3-56-2]
The word used setu also means a ‘bridge’ apart from a rampart. Thus Dasharatha is not only a rampart ‘a defensive wall with a broad top and usu. a stone parapet…’ for the defence of dharma from its mismanagement, but he is also the bridge between a dharma and dharma. Thus this bridge called Dasharatha enables anyone to crossover it towards dharma. That bridge called Dasharatha allowed Rama to cross and to reach forests for the annihilation of demons.
Therefore, Seetha is saying ‘being such a righteous king’s daughter-in-law, I cannot bring blemish to my in-laws, or to their dynasty in surrendering to you… furthermore, my husband is the one from such a dynasty who never tolerates unrighteousness…’
And by taking the name of Dasharatha, where dasha ratha ‘ten way charioteer, or charioteer of ten chariots…’ she is explaining ‘my father-in-law chariots his one chariot in ten ways, whereas you can steer only one in one way, called lust… my father-in-law chariots ten chariots in a single instance, whereas you can handle only one, at any given time besides being dependent on the capability of auto-propelling Pushpaka aircraft, rather than on your own steersman’s capability….
रामो नाम स धर्मात्मा त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः |
दीर्घ बाहुः विशालाक्षो दैवतम् स पतिः मम || ३-५६-३
diirgha baahuH vishaalaakSho daivatam sa patiH mama || 3-56-3
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.3
“Such a Dasharatha’s son who is virtue-souled one, who is highly renowned in all the three worlds for his ambidexterity and perspicacity, and who is known as Rama is my husband and a god to me. [3-56-3]
Annex: ‘And he is named as Rama because he causes rejoice in one and all, thus he is well renowned in all worlds, unlike you who are named as Ravana, meaning that ‘the one who makes one and all rueful…’ thus you are also well renowned in the worlds, but by your notoriety. On the other hand Rama is virtue-souled, unlike you a virtueless, meritless and lawless knave… and his ambidexterity contrasts with your guile-handedness, while his perceptiveness with your purblindness of the proximate problem of yours… such a husband’s wife as I am, how do you think that I on my own get estranged from such a godlike husband of mine, unrighteously….
इक्ष्वाकूणाम् कुले जातः सिंह स्कन्धो महाद्युतिः |
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा यः ते प्राणान् हरिष्यति || ३-५६-४
lakShmaNena saha bhraatraa yaH te praaNaan hariShyati || 3-56-4
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.4
“He who took birth in Ikshvaku’s dynasty is a great-resplendent one with his shoulders like those of a lion, and who comes here along with similarly lion-shouldered and nearly great-resplendent brother of his, namely Lakshmana, to take your lives away. Such Rama is my husband. [3-56-4]
Annex: Ravana asked Seetha at 3-55-21 ‘what can you achieve with that dethroned, hapless, seer, vagrant Rama and who is short-lived, for after all, he is a human with littlest vitality?’ Thus belittling Rama’s possessions in the shape of palaces, riches and kingdoms. For that Seetha is now saying that Rama does not possess anything, but the whole world is possessed of him. saha lakshmaNa= sa ha lakshmaNa ; cihnaa naamno saha lakshmii ke saumitrau saa rasa striyaam ‘Supreme Person’s possession is the eternal opulence of the Universe…’ para brahma mantraNayo ‘one achievable by constant meditation upon Him alone…’ To such Rama now adjoined is Lakshmana, the personified prosperity. As such, that Supreme Splendour has taken incarnation as Rama because of the curse of Anaranya. Thus, Seetha took the name of Ikshvaku dynasty.
The curse of Anaranya: Anaranya is the ancestor of Rama in Ikshvaku dynasty. His son is Haryashva, a grandparent of Rama. When Ravana subjugated Anaranya, dying Anaranya curses Ravana to die at the hands of his great-grandson Rama in later generations.
‘Such Ikshvaku will now come along with prosperous Lakshmana not only to belittle your opulence of falsity, but also to terminate such a vainglorious mischief… thus foxlike creatures like you cannot dare a lion, for he is lion-shouldered… and because you foxed Rama you are still alive, otherwise…’ – continuation with next verse.
प्रत्यक्षम् यदि अहम् तस्य त्वया स्याम् धर्षिता बलात् |
शयिता त्वम् हतः संख्ये जनस्थाने यथा खरः || ३-५६-५
shayitaa tvam hataH sa.nkhye janasthaane yathaa kharaH || 3-56-5
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.5
“Had I been forcibly humiliated by you in the presence of Rama, you too would have been killed by Rama in combat and by now you too would be sprawling on earth, as with Khara in Janasthaana, but you foxed him. However, such Rama is my husband. [3-56-5] .
य एते राक्षसाः प्रोक्ता घोर रूपा महाबलाः |
राघवे निर्विषाः सर्वे सुपर्णे पन्नगा यथा || ३-५६-६
raaghave nirviShaaH sarve suparNe pannagaa yathaa || 3-56-6
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.6
“Those demons who are spoken of you to be with ghastly forms and gruelling power, they all will become formless and powerless in face of Raghava, as with all snakes becoming non-poisonous earthworms in the face of Garuda, the Divine Eagle. Such Rama is my husband. [3-56-6]
Annex: ‘You said that you have millions and millions of ghastly demons… but where are they, in the backyard of your house and behind your back? None has surfaced so far to confront my husband, for they are nothing but your kitchenware… and thus you are a gehe shuuraH’a champion in your own home… a paper tiger…’ boastful of your paper-thin-tigerish-ness before me, a solitary woman… thus you and your forces will be rendered ineffectual the minute you confront my husband…’ .
तस्य ज्या विप्रमुक्ताः ते शराः कांचन भूषणाः |
शरीरम् विधमिष्यन्ति गंगा कूलम् इव ऊर्मयः || ३-५६-७
shariiram vidhamiShyanti ga.ngaa kuulam iva uurmayaH || 3-56-7
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.7
“Those gilded arrows of Rama unloosened directly and unswervingly from his bowstring will utterly batter your body, as the waves of River Ganga will be battering that river’s riverbanks. Such Rama is my husband. [3-56-7]
Annex: ‘What if Rama is dethroned or enthroned? He is not a ‘hapless’ person as observed by you, but he solitarily depends upon his self-confidence and a pair of skilful arms .
असुरैः वा सुरैः वा त्वम् यदि अवध्यो असि रावण |
उत्पाद्य सुमहत् वैरम् जीवन् तस्य न मोक्ष्यसे || ३-५६-८
utpaadya sumahat vairam jiivan tasya na mokShyase || 3-56-8
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.8
“Even if you are unkillable either by gods or by demons, you Ravana, you will not be disenthralled by Rama while you are alive, for you hatched a very great animosity in him against you. [3-56-8]
Annex: ‘Maybe god or demons or others, other than humans, cannot kill you… why the humans were slighted by you as your killing agents at the time of your seeking boons from Brahma, or at least at the time of my abduction why humans are disregarded… hence, that heedlessness alone becomes the very cause for your self-ruination…’ .
स ते जीवित शेषस्य राघवो अन्त करो बली |
पशोः यूप गतस्य इव जीवितम् तव दुर्लभम् || ३-५६-९
pashoH yuupa gatasya iva jiivitam tava durlabham || 3-56-9
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.9
“That mighty Rama will become the terminator of the vestige of your life, and as with an animal fastened to the stake of sacrifice your life too will become irretrievable. [3-56-9]
Annex: ‘Even the beasts like cattle and goats when herded towards a slaughterhouse they will be apprehensively fearsome and walk closely and snugly, for they know not what will become of them… and for your part, your intellect is far too low than that of a beastie bovine… and you say vaingloriously that everything in every world fears you… firstly you fear for yourself as an animal tied to a stake…
‘Rama’s life itself is yaj~na ‘a sacrificial ritual…’ his actions are ritualistic performances… in which he sacrifices a dharma for the sake of dharma even by sacrificing his own comforts… and you said of him as a ‘vagrant…’ yes, his yaj~na is to be performed not by sitting in some hall of ritual, but meandering vagrantly… because entire earth is his hall of ritual… and now, you as a sacrificial beast are fastened to the stake of sacrifice by a rope called Seetha, and you be ready awaiting for your slaughter in that raama yaj~na .
यदि पश्येत् स रामः त्वाम् रोष दीप्तेन चक्षुषा |
रक्षः त्वम् अद्य निर्दग्धो यथा रुद्रेण मन्मधः || ३-५६-१०
rakShaH tvam adya nirdagdho yathaa rudreNa manmadhaH || 3-56-10
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.10
“If he that Rama glances you with his rancour-torched eyes, you demon, you will be completely burnt down now itself, as with Love-god burnt down by Furious Shiva. [3-56-10]
Annex: ‘exacting eroticism is an inexcusable impasse… did you not learn this lesson from the legend of your iSTa daiva ‘most cherished god…’ God Shiva, who burnt down the Love-god… and if there is any thinly separated state between love and lust, how then will you be unburnt by the furious glances of Rama for your lustfulness….
यः चन्द्रम् नभसो भूमौ पातयेन् नाशयेत वा |
सागरम् शोषयेत् वा अपि स सीताम् मोचयेत् इह || ३-५६-११
saagaram shoShayet vaa api sa siitaam mocayet iha || 3-56-11
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.11
“He that Rama who hurls down the moon from skies onto earth, or else extirpates it if need be, or even desiccates an ocean, he alone rescues Seetha from here. [3-56-11]
Annex: ‘You need not sit back gleefully thinking that none can cross over an ocean and come thither, presuming that ‘a hundred-yojana ocean roundly enshrouds this Lanka…’ Rama can dehydrate any ocean of any size in its entirety… thus he just walk on its sands in commissioning his mission….
गत आयुः त्वम् गत श्रीकः गत सत्त्वो गत इन्द्रियः |
लंका वैधव्य संयुक्ता त्वत् कृतेन भविष्यति || ३-५६-१२
la.nkaa vaidhavya saMyuktaa tvat kR^itena bhaviShyati || 3-56-12
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.12
“Gone is your liveability, gone is your prosperity, gone is your vivacity, and gone is your faculty. Thus Lanka is widowed by a single deed of yours. [3-56-12]
Annex: ‘as such, you yourself cannot be on the throne of Lanka since her widowhood is admonished by your single act of touching ‘other man’s wife’ that is me, and in abducting me… wherewith you daydream and daresay to me ‘you rule over this very great empire of Lanka as empress of Lanka…’ .
न ते पापम् इदम् कर्म सुख उदर्कम् भविष्यति |
या अहम् नीता विना भावम् पति पार्श्वात् त्वया वनात् || ३-५६-१३
yaa aham niitaa vinaa bhaavam pati paarshvaat tvayaa vanaat || 3-56-13
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.13
“In forest you have separated me from the propinquity of my husband, which diabolic deed of yours will not result in any ultimate happiness for you. [3-56-13]
Annex: you said to me, ‘of what use is your thinking conversely about that long-lost Rama…’ what else am I to do, for I am diabolically dragged away from him by you, as such I am, I am now contemplating upon that Rama alone to come here to handover ‘a fruit of unhappiness’ to you as a barter for my release…’ .
स हि देवर – दैवत – संयुक्तो मम भर्ता महाद्युतिः |
निर्भयो वीर्यम् आश्रित्य शून्ये वसति दण्डके || ३-५६-१४
nirbhayo viiryam aashritya shuunye vasati daNDake || 3-56-14
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.14
“In fact, that great-resplendent husband of mine, Rama, is still residing in the eremitical Dandaka forest, bravely hinging on to his own valour, in tandem only with my brother-in-law. [3-56-14]
Annex: ‘you said that you do not envisage ‘him who can lead me back with his valour…’ but my husband is still there in Dandaka along with his brother, both in tandem only with God Almighty, whose biting bravery and venomous valour are yet to be tasted by you… and if you too are brave enough, confront him to know whether I am winnable or otherwise…’ .
स ते वीर्यम् दर्पम् बलम् उत्सेकम् च तथा विधम् |
अपनेष्यति गात्रेभ्यः शर वर्षेण संयुगे || ३-५६-१५
apaneShyati gaatrebhyaH shara var.hSheNa sa.nyuge || 3-56-15
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.15
“With storms of his arrows in a given combat my husband will dislodge arrogance, insolence, puissance, like that impudence from every limb of yours. [3-56-15]
Annex: ‘for yours is only bodily might as you have said ‘I behold none matchable to my vitality…’ and no spiritual or ethical, or whatsoever merits abide in you… thus, should you confront an ethical and scrupulous combatant, evanished are your bodily vanities…’ .
यदा विनाशो भूतानाम् दृश्यते काल चोदितः |
तदा कार्ये प्रमाद्यन्ति नराः काल वशम् गताः || ३-५६-१६
tadaa kaarye pramaadyanti naraaH kaala vasham gataaH || 3-56-16
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.16
“As and when ruination of created beings manifests actuated by Time, then all of them will place their behaviour in endangerment, as they have gone under the control of End-Time. [3-56-16]
Annex: ‘you said to me that ‘by your damnable dwelling in forests, bygone is your bad-luck which you misdealt in bygone times…’ and I agree for that assertion of yours as my damnable bad-luck is nearing its completion, but your damnable, ill-lucky, self-ruinous time as started, and hence you are placing your behaviour in endangerment, by this quirkish act of abducting me…’ .
माम् प्रधृष्य स ते कालः प्राप्तो अयम् रक्षस अधम |
आत्मनो राक्षसानाम् च वधाय अन्तः पुरस्य च || ३-५६-१७
aatmano raakShasaanaam ca vadhaaya antaH purasya ca || 3-56-17
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.17
“This is that time which has bechanced on you owing to your molesting me, you basely demon, by which time-factor yourself, all of your demons, and even all of your queens in the Chambers of Queens will be devastated. [3-56-17]
Annex: You said that I will become an empress among all females you brought. I need not become an empress for the ‘countless females of finest fabric you amassed…’ Because all those females have yielded themselves to you, and they are going to be devastated and evanished along with their Chambers of Queens, which chambers you endowed to them as gifts. But Rama will rescue others who are still captivated yet reticent. Where is the question of my becoming an empress of dead souls? .
न शक्या यज्ञ मध्यस्था वेदिः स्रुक् भाण्ड मण्डिता |
द्विजाति मंत्र संपूता चण्डालेन अवमर्दितुम् || ३-५६-१८
dvijaati ma.ntra saMpuutaa caNDaalena avamarditum || 3-56-18
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.18
“It is impossible for a profaner to heavily tread on the Altar of Fire amidst a Ritual Hall surrounded by oblational vessels, further sanctified by Vedic hymns. [3-56-18]
Annex: ‘Liken me to that Altar of Fire, centrally located in the ritual hall of Rama, namely the whole earth, and liken the oblational receptacles to nature’s bounties like lakes, rivers, mountains, trees, and liken the offerings to flowers, fruits, and waters, and liken Vedic sound to the background drone of nature… and every bit of it is sanctified by all the hymns of Veda-s, as all Veda-s glorify them, the components of nature alone… and you profaner… it is impossible for you tread on this Fire Altar, that is me, blasphemously…’
This expression caNDaal has its own impact. Though this is amplified elsewhere it is reiterated here also. The nomenclature of caNDaal is not the present day ‘untouchable’ ‘outcaste’ or a ‘pariah’ etc., because he is also a member and an important functionary in Hindu system of castes. The analogy is between the Vedic-scholar and profaner, [meaning: one who is not initiated into religious rites or any esoteric knowledge…] and between the Altar of Fire and Fire of Pyre, and between the Vedic Ritual and Funeral Rites, both involving Vedic-hymns. A Vedic scholar may perhaps conduct a yaj~na but he is no authority to conduct antya kriya ‘funerals’ till its end. At best, a priest’s function is until the lighting of the pyre, and even perhaps until kapaala moksha ‘breakage of cranium…’ and from then on it is the function of this caNDaal to take care of the corpse consigned to fire and for its complete cremation, since leaving half burnt corpse to vultures and foxes or wolves, is sinning. Thus, if a Vedic scholar conducts jaata aadi kriyaaH ‘rites from birth onwards…’ as an initiator, whereas a caNDaal conducts antya, uttara kriyaaH ‘rites of death afterwards…’ as a terminator. Thus, Ravana being a Vedic scholar is now conducting himself as a self-cremator.
तथा अहम् धर्म नित्यस्य धर्म पत्नी दृढ व्रता |
त्वया संप्रष्टुम् न शक्या अहम् राक्षसाधम पापिना || ३-५६-१९
tvayaa saMpraShTum na shakyaa aham raakshasaadhama paapinaa || 3-56-19
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.19
“Likewise, I am the solemnly pledged legitimate wife of one who steadied himself in righteousness, and such as I am, you basely demon, it is impossible for you trespasser to touch me even. [3-56-19] .
क्रीडन्ती राज हंसेन पद्म षँडेषु नित्यशः |
हंसी सा तृण षण्डस्थम् कथम् द्रक्षेत मद्गुकम् || ३-५६-२०
haMsii saa tR^iNa ShaNDastham katham draksheta madgukam || 3-56-20
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.20
“How a she-swan ever frolicking with majestic swans in bunches of lotuses can leer at a water-crow sneaking in a bunch of grass? [3-56-20] .
इदम् शरीरम् निःसंज्ञम् बन्ध वा घातयस्व वा |
न इदम् शरीरम् रक्ष्यम् मे जीवितम् वा अपि राक्षस || ३-५६-२१
न तु शक्यामि उपक्रोशम् पृथिव्याम् धातुम् आत्मनः |
na idam shariiram rakShyam me jiivitam vaa api raakShasa || 3-56-21
na tu shakyaami upakrosham pR^ithivyaam dhaatum aatmanaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.21, 3.56.22a
“Oh, demon, you may either trammel or vandalise this inertial body of mine. I claim neither this body nor life of mine as my own. But I am intolerant to bear with any disrepute on this earth.” Thus Seetha castigated Ravana. [3-56-21, 22a]
Annex: ‘my father endowed me to Rama bodily in kanyaa daana ‘bride betrothal…’ and I soulfully resigned my soul, let alone my life, unto that Rama by my vara sviikaara, paaNi grahaNa… ‘marriage…’ as such I cannot reclaim my body and soul from Rama for placement in other’s unworthy hands… thereby it is up Rama to win back his wife, or it is up to you to tangle, mangle, and wrangle with these ideas…’
Nobility is nobler than life. Hence, it is to be protected even at the cost of one’s own life… anena praaNa parityaagena api loka apavaada pariharaNa puurvakam yashaH samrakShNiiyam iti suucitam – tathaa ca raghu vamshe kaalidaasaH – api sva dehaat kim uta indriya arthaat yashodhaanaanam hi yasho gariiyaH – dk .
एवम् उक्त्वा तु वैदेही क्रोद्धात् सु परुषम् वचः || ३-५६-२२
रावणम् मैथिली तत्र पुनः न उवाच किंचन |
raavaNam maithilii tatra punaH na uvaaca kiMcana |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.22b, 3.56.23a
Vaidehi on speaking those highly caustic words angrily to Ravana in this way, she that Maithili spoke no more in that matter. [3-56-22b, 23a] .
सीताया वचनम् श्रुत्वा परुषम् रोम हर्षणम् || ३-५६-२३
प्रति उवाच ततः सीताम् भय संदर्शनम् वचः |
prati uvaaca tataH siitaam bhaya sa.ndarshanam vacaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.23b, 3.56.24a
On hearing Seetha’s scathing and hair-raising censures, then Ravana retorted with these intimidatory chides. [3-56-23b, 24a] .
शृणु मैथिलि मत् वाक्यम् मासान् द्वादश भामिनि || ३-५६-२४
कालेन अनेन न अभ्येषि यदि माम् चारु हासिनि |
ततः त्वाम् प्रातः आशा अर्थम् सूदाः छेत्स्यन्ति लेशशः || ३-५६-२५
kaalena anena na abhyeShi yadi maam caaru haasini |
tataH tvaam praataH aashaa artham suudaaH chhetsyanti leshashaH || 3-56-25
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.24b, 3.56.25
“Oh, angry lady Maithili, listen to my words. A period of twelve months is given to you. And oh, smiley smiler, if you do not come nigh of me within that period, then the cooks will slice you to pieces for the purpose of a morning meal.” [3-56-24b, 25]
dhvani/innuendo: Ravana the devotee is saying: ‘I will wait for a period of twelve months… and if I am na abhyeSi ‘unblessed…’ tataH tvaam uddishya ‘then, on your account…’ praataH ‘morning, next morning after twelve month period…’ aashaa artham ‘for the purpose of crows, eagles and vultures in direction, quarters…’ suudaaH ‘cooks…’ maam Chesyanti ‘me, they slice to pieces…’ mat aaj~nayaa, iti shesaH ‘by my order, thus ellipted…’
‘I will wait for a period of twelve months… and if I am unblessed even by that time, by my order my cooks will slice me to pieces for the morning meal of vultures in all the directions of compass, as a kind of self-immolation by getting sliced to pieces as I will become unworthy for your grace…’ Tiirtha.
If one king conquers another and lay seize to queens, a twelve month time is given to the defeated king to regain his captivated queens, by making another round of combat. If the defeated king is unable to do so, or reluctant to do so, the captivated queens of the defeated king automatically belong to the conquering king after twelve months, raja niita – shaanti parva – Maha Bharata.
इति उक्त्वा परुषम् वाक्यम् रावणः शत्रु रावणः |
राक्षसीः च ततः क्रुद्ध इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || ३-५६-२६
raakShasiiH ca tataH kruddha idam vacanam abraviit || 3-56-26
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.26
Thus on saying those harsh words, Ravana, the one who makes his enemies to bewail, and who is now infuriated said this sentence to the guarding demonesses. [3-56-26] .
शीघ्रम् एव हि राक्षस्यो विकृता घोर दर्शनाः |
दर्पम् अस्या अपनेष्यन्तु मांस शोणित भोजनाः || ३-५६-२७
darpam asyaa apaneShyantu maaMsa shoNita bhojanaaH || 3-56-27
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.27
“Oh, gnarled demonesses of grisly mien and devourers of meat and blood, you have to indeed remove her pride immediately. [3-56-27]
dhvani/innuendo: ‘Oh, demonesses you now immediately become a+ vikR^itaa ‘not, ghastly, not gnarled…’ darpam vinaa ‘your pride, without…’ asyaat samiipe ‘in her proximity, in her audience…’ iSyadhvam ‘be servitors…’
‘Oh, demonesses of gnarled grisly mien and devourers of meat and blood, now you immediately become presentable, casting off your gnarled and ghastly appearances… and without your personal pride be in her servitude as servitors in her audience… for she is my Goddess Lakshmi…’ .
वचनात् एव ताः तस्य विकृता घोर दर्शनाः |
कृत प्रांजलयो भूत्वा मैथिलीम् पर्यवारयन् || ३-५६-२८
kR^ita praa.njalayo bhuutvaa maithiliim paryavaarayan || 3-56-28
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.28
Just by that order of Ravana those demonesses of grotesque and ugly appearance have obediently made palm-fold to him and encircled Maithili. [3-56-28] .
स ताः प्रोवाच राजा तु रावणो घोर दर्शनाः |
प्रचाल्य चरण उत्कर्षैः दारयन् इव मेदिनीम् || ३-५६-२९
pracaalya caraNa utkarShaiH daarayan iva mediniim || 3-56-29
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.29
That king Ravana paced in an earth-shattering manner as though to cleave it and clearly said this to those demonesses with ghastly look. [3-56-29] .
अशोक वनिका मध्ये मैथिली नीयताम् इति |
तत्र इयम् रक्ष्यताम् गूढम् युष्माभिः परिवारिता || ३-५६-३०
tatra iyam rakShyataam guuDham yuShmaabhiH parivaaritaa || 3-56-30
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.30
“Let this Maithili be taken to the centre of Ashoka gardens, where you all shall blockade and guard her stealthily. [3-56-30] .
तत्र एनाम् तर्जनैः घोरैः पुनः सांत्वैः च मैथिलीम् |
आनयध्वम् वशम् सर्वा वन्याम् गज वधूम् इव || ३-५६-३१
aanayadhvam vasham sarvaa vanyaam gaja vadhuum iva || 3-56-31
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.31
“You threaten her with dreadful admonitions and again speaking imploringly you all have to bring her under control, as a wild she-elephant of age will be brought under control. [3-56-31]
Annex: Ravana the devotee’s the caution is: vinaa tarjaniaH ‘without threats, tame her; or tarjanaiH vinaa ghoraiH where vinaa ‘without…’ is ellipted by commentators and said ‘threats without dreadfulness…
‘You as demons are already habituated to threat sages and saints till their death… but, mind it… just threaten Maithili till threat-tolerability… do not overdo it, lest she may die of threats… again brainwash her with good words of me and my generosity… if Maithili is dead at your hands deem that you and your families are effaced… for I cherish Maithili to live…’ .
इति प्रति समादिष्टा राक्षस्यो रावणेन ताः |
अशोक वनिकाम् जग्मुः मैथिलीम् परिगृह्य तु || ३-५६-३२
सर्वकामफलैर्वृक्षैर्नानापुष्पफलैर्वृताम् – यद्वा –
सर्व काम फलैः वृक्षैः नाना पुष्प फलैः वृताम् |
सर्व काल मदैः च अपि द्विजैः समुपसेविताम् || ३-५६-३३
ashoka vanikaam jagmuH maithiliim parigR^ihya tu || 3-56-32
sarvakaamaphalairvR^ikShairnaanaapuShpaphalairvR^itaam – yadvaa –
sarva kaama phalaiH vR^ikShaiH naanaa puShpa phalaiH vR^itaam |
sarva kaala madaiH ca api dvijaiH samupasevitaam || 3-56-33
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.32, 3.56.33
When Ravana has clearly ordered, those demonesses on their part took Maithili to Ashoka garden. That Ashoka gardens are surrounded with trees that yield fruits to every savour, and now they are diversely flowered and fruited. Further, those gardens are highly adored by all-time lusty birds. [3-56-32, 33] .
सा तु शोक परीत अंगी मैथिली जनकात्मजा |
राक्षसी वशम् आपन्ना व्याघ्रीणाम् हरिणी यथा || ३-५६-३४
raakShasii vasham aapannaa vyaaghriiNaam hariNii yathaa || 3-56-34
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.34
But she that Janaka’s daughter Maithili whose body is with a coverall of anguish, further on obtaining the control of demonesses, she is as good as a she-deer under the coverall of tigresses. [3-56-34] .
शोकेन महता ग्रस्ता मैथिली जनकात्मजा |
न शर्म लभते भीरुः पाश बद्धा मृगी यथा || ३-५६-३५
na sharma labhate bhiiruH paasha baddhaa mR^igii yathaa || 3-56-35
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.35
Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, who is already consumed by utmost agony has not obtained any placidity now as with a she-deer bound by tether – where timorousness is common to both. [3-56-35] .
न विन्दते तत्र तु शर्म मैथिली
विरूप नेत्राभिः अतीव तर्जिता |
पतिम् स्मरन्ती दयितम् च देवरम्
विचेतना अभूत् भय शोक पीडिता || ३-५६-३६
viruupa netraabhiH atiiva tarjitaa |
patim smarantii dayitam ca devaram
vicetanaa abhuut bhaya shoka piiDitaa || 3-56-36
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.56.36
Maithili knows no peace when the bizarre-eyed demonesses have highly intimidated her, and by shut-seeing those demonesses her reminiscences went over to her dear husband and about her brother-in-law Lakshmana too, and when she felt about the improbability of their coming here, she is distraught with alarm and anguish, and then she swooned. [3-56-36] .
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