YUDDHAKAANDA – SARGA 5
Rama recollects the lotus-eyed Seetha and laments much about his separation from her. Lakshmana consoles him and there approaches the sun-set.
That famous army, well-protected by Neela, was kept stationed nicely at the northern shore of the ocean. Both Maina and Dvivida the distinguished monkeys there moved in all directions through that army, for the purpose of vigilance. After the army was settled at the sea-shore, Rama spoke to Lakshmana who was by his side (as follows):
“It is so said that sorrow gets vanished at the passing of time. But my agony of not seeing my beloved is getting increased every day. There is no anguish for me that my beloved is at a distance, nor that she was taken away. Her age is indeed passing away. Only about this, I am repenting. Oh, wind! Flow from the side of my beloved. Touch her and touch me too. It is through you that I get a contact of her limbs. It is through moon that I get a contact of her eyes. That darling being carried away; might have cried “Oh, Lord!” seeking for help. That thought is like poison gulped by me, hovering in my stomach and scorching my limbs. My body is scorching night and day, by the fire of passion, holding fuel of my separation from her and my thoughts of her flaring into shimmering flames.”
“Oh, Lakshmana! Diving deep into the sea without you, I shall fall asleep. This flaming passion will not thus scorch me, lying down in water. It is enough for me, who is passionate, that Seetha with charming thighs and me are resting on one and the same earth and on this fact I am able to survive. Even as a paddy-field without water survives, by getting wet from a neighboring paddy-field under water, I also survive since I am hearing her as surviving. When shall I behold Seetha with charming hips, having long lotus-like eyes flourishing as prosperity, by conquering the enemies? When, gently raising her face looking like lotus, with its beautiful teeth and lips, shall I drink as a sick man the sovereign drink of remedy? When will those breasts which are delightful, close, bulging and quivering, looking like Palmyra fruits, indeed press me? She, with dark-cornered eyes, who has fallen into the midst of demons, is surely not getting any defender, she resembling an orphan, though I am her support. How Seetha the daughter of King Janaka, my darling and Dasaratha’s daughter-in-law is sleeping among ogresses? Seetha will come out, driving away (through my force) the unassailable demons, as driving away black clouds by a digit of the moon, in autumn. Seetha, who by nature is slender, will undoubtedly become leaner further because of her anguish, her abstinence from food and her adverse position of time and place. When shall I bring back Seetha, having lodged arrows in Ravana’s chest and having abandoned this mental agony? When indeed Seetha the virtuous lady similar to the child of a celestial, with an excited longing, will embrace my neck and release tears of joy? When shall I thrillingly abandon this terrible anguish, born out of my separation from Seetha so soon, as we abandon soiled clothing?”
While that sagacious Rama was lamenting thus there, the sun, the weak-rayed due to day-decline, approached the dusk. Lakshmana consoled Rama who was overwhelmed with anguish, duly recollecting the lotus-eyed Seetha. Thereafter, Rama worshipped the evening-twilight.
सा तु नीलेन विधिवत् स्वारक्षा सुसमाहिता |
सागरस्य उत्तरे तीरे साधु सेना विनिएशिता || 6.5.1
सा = that army; (or) he the famous one;
विधिवत् = duly;
स्वारक्षा = well-protected;
नीलेन = by Neela;
विनिएशिता = was kept stationed;
साधु = well;
उत्तरे तीरे = at the northern shore;
सागरस्य= of the ocean.
That famous army, well-protected by Neela, was kept stationed nicely at the northern shore of the ocean.
मैन्दः च द्विविधः च उभौ तत्र वानर पुम्गवौ |
विचेरतुः च ताम् सेनाम् रक्षा अर्थम् सर्वतो दिशम् || 6.5.2.
उभौ = both;
मैन्दः च = Maina;
द्विविधः चैव = and Divida;
वानर पुम्गवौ = the distinguished;
तत्र = there monkeys;
विचेरतुः = moved;
सर्वतो दिशम् = in all directions;
ताम् सेनाम् = in that army;
रक्षा अर्थम् = for the purpose of vigilance.
Both Maina and Dvivida the distinguished monkeys there moved in all directions through that army, for the purpose of vigilance.
निविष्टायाम् तु तीरे नद नदी पतेः |
पार्श्वस्थम् लक्ष्मणम् दृष्ट्वा रामो वचनम् अब्रवीत् || 6.5.3.
सेनायाम् = (after) the army;
निविष्टायाम् = was settled;
तीरे = at the shore;
नद नदी पतेः = of the sea;
राम: = Rama;
अब्रवीत् = spoke;
वचनम्= these words;
दृष्ट्वा = seeing;
लक्ष्मणम् = Lakshmana;
पार्श्वस्थम् = at his side.
After the army was settled at the sea-shore, Rama spoke to Lakshmana who was by his side (as follows):
शोकः च किल कालेन गच्चता हि अपगच्चति |
मम च अपश्यतः कान्ताम् अहनि अहनि वर्धते || 6.5.4.
kila = It is so said;
shokaH = (that) sorrow;
apagachchhati = gets vanished;
gachchhataaa = at the passing;
kaalena = of time;
mama cha = but my agony;
apashyataH = of not seeing
kaantaam = my beloved;
vardhate = is getting increased;
ahanyahani = day n and day out.
“It is so said that sorrow gets vanished at the passing of time. But my agony of not seeing my beloved is getting increased every day.”
न मे दुह्खम् प्रिया दूरे न मे दुह्खम् हृता इति च |
तद् एव अनुशोचामि वयो अस्या हि अतिवर्तते || 6.5.5.
न = no;
दुह्खम् = anguish;
मे = to me;
प्रिया = (that) my beloved;
दूरे = is at a distance;
न = No;
दुह्खम् = anguish;
मे = to me;
हृतेति च = tat she was taken away;
अस्या: = Her;
वय: = age;
अतिवर्तते हि = is indeed passing away;
amshochaami = I am repenting;
eetadeva = only about this.
“There is no anguish for me that my beloved is at a distance, nor that she was taken away. Her age is indeed passing away. Only about this, I am repenting.”
वाहि वात यतः कन्या ताम् स्पृष्ट्वा माम् अपि स्पृश |
त्वयि मे गात्र संस्पर्शः चन्द्रे दृष्टि समागमः || 6.5.6.
वात = Oh; wind!;
वाहि = flow;
यतः = from which side;
कन्या = is my beloved;
स्पृष्ट्वा = touch;
ताम् = her;
स्पृश = (and) touch;
माम् अपि = me too;
गात्र स्पर्शः = contact of her limb;
मे = to me;
त्वयि = is obtained through you;
दृष्टि समागमः = contact of our eyes;
चन्द्रे = is through moon.”
“Oh, wind! Flow from the side of my beloved. Touch her and touch me too. It is through you that I get a contact of her limbs. It is through moon that I get a contact of her eyes.”
तन् मे दहति गात्राणि विषम् पीतम् इव आशये |
हा नाथ इति प्रिया सा माम् ह्रियमाणा यद् अब्रवीत् || 6.5.7.
सा प्रिया = that darling;
ह्रियमाणा = being carried away;
अब्रवीत् इति यद् = might have cried;
हा नाथ इति = Oh; Lord (seeking for help);
तत् = It;
विषम् इव = is like poison;
पीतम् = gulped (by me);
आशये = and hovering in my stomach;
दहति = scorching;
मे = my;
गात्राणि = limbs.
“That darling being carried away; might have cried “Oh, Lord!” Seeking for help. That thought is like poison gulped by me, hovering in my stomach and scorching my limbs.”
तद् वियोग इन्धनवता तच् चिन्ता विपुल अर्चिषा |
रात्रिम् दिवम् शरीरम् मे दह्यते मदन अग्निना || 6.5.8.
मे = My;
शरीरम् = body;
दह्यते = is scorching;
रात्रिम् दिवम् = night and day;
मदन अग्निना= by the fire of passion;
तद् वियोग वता = holding fuel of my separation from her;
तच् चिन्ता विपुल अर्चिषा = and my thoughts of her flaring up into shimmering flames.
“My body is scorching night and day, by the fire of passion, holding fuel of my separation from her and my thoughts of her flaring into shimmering flames.”
अवगाह्य अर्णवम् स्वप्स्ये सौमित्रे भवता विना |
कथंचित् प्रज्वलन् कामः समासुप्तम् जले दहेत् || 6.5.9.
सौमित्रे = OH; Lakshmana!;
अवगाह्य = going deep into;
अर्णवम् = the sea;
भवता विना = without you;
स्वप्स्ये = I shall fall asleep;
प्रज्वलन् = flaming;
कामः = passion;
न दहेत् = will not scorch;
माम्= me;
एवं च = thus;
सुप्तम् = sleeping;
जले = in water.
“Oh, Lakshmana! Diving deep into the sea without you, I shall fall asleep. This flaming passion will not thus scorch me, lying down in water.
बह्व् एतत् कामयानस्य शक्यम् एतेन जीवितुम् |
यद् अहम् सा च वाम ऊरुर् एकाम् धरणिम् आश्रितौ || 6.5.10.
एतत् = this;
बह्व्= is great thing;
कामयानस्य = for me who is passionate;
इति यत् = that;
अहम्= I;
सा वामोरूः = and that Seetha; with charming thighs
आश्रितौ = are resting;
एकाम् = on one and the same;
धरणिम् = earth;
शक्यम् = I am able;
जीवितुम् = to survive;
एतेन = on this fact.
“It is enough for me, who is passionate, that Seetha with charming thighs and myself are resting on one the same earth and on this fact I am able to survive.”
केदारस्य इव केदारः स उदकस्य निरूदकः |
उपस्नेहेन जीवामि जीवन्तीम् यत् शृणोमि ताम् || 6.5.11.
यत् = that;
शृणोमि = I am hearing;
ताम् = her;
जीवन्तीम् = as surviving;
जीवामि = I also survive;
केदार: इव = as a paddy-field;
निरूदकः = without water (survives);
उपस्नेहेन = getting wet;
केदारस्य = by another paddy-field;
सोदक्स्य = under water.
“Even as a paddy-field without water survives, by getting wet from a neighboring paddy-field under water, I also survive since I am hearing her as surviving.
कदा तु खलु सुस्शोणीम् शत पत्र आयत ईक्षणाम् |
विजित्य शत्रून् द्रक्ष्यामि सीताम् स्फीताम् इव श्रियम् || 6.5.12.
कदा खलु = when;
द्रक्ष्यामि = shall I see;
सीताम् = Seetha;
सुस्शोणीम् = with charming hips;
शत पत्र आयत ईक्षणाम् = having long lotus-like eyes;
स्फीताम् = flourishing;
श्रियम् इव = as prosperity;
विजित्य = by conquering;
शत्रून् = the enemies.
“When shall I behold Seetha with charming hips, having long lotus-like eyes flourishing as prosperity, by conquering the enemies?”
कदा नु चारु बिम्ब ओष्ठम् तस्याः पद्मम् इव आननम् |
ईषद् उन्नम्य पास्यामि रसायनम् इव आतुरः || 6.5.13.
कदा = when;
उन्नम्य = raising;
ईषद् = a little;
तस्याः = her;
आननम् = face;
पद्मम् इव = looking like louts;
सुचारुदन्तोष्ठम् = with its beautiful teeth and lips;
पास्यामि = shall I drink;
रसायनम् इव= as a sovereign drink of remedy;
आतुरः = by a sick man?”
“When, gently raising her face looking like louts, with its beautiful teeth and lips, shall I drink as a sick man the sovereign drink of remedy?”
तौ तस्याः सम्हतौ पीनौ स्तनौ ताल फल उपमौ |
कदा नु खलु स उत्कम्पौ हसन्त्या माम् भजिष्यतः || 6.5.14.
खलु = when will;
तौ = those;
स्तनौ = breasts;
हसन्त्या: = which are delightful;
पीनौ = bulging;
स उत्कम्पौ= and quivering;
ताल फल उपमौ= looking like Palmyra fruits;
भजिष्यतः नु = indeed press;
माम् = me?
“When will those breasts which are delightful close, bulging and quivering, looking like palmary fruits, indeed press on me?”
सा नूनम् असित अपान्गी रक्षो मध्य गता सती |
मन् नाथा नाथ हीना इव त्रातारम् न अधिगच्चति || 6.5.15.
सा = she;
असित अपान्गी= with dark-cornered eyes;
रक्षो मध्य गता सती = who has fallen in the middle of ogres;
मन् नाथा= though I am her support;
नूनम् = is certainly;
न अधिगच्चति= not getting;
त्रातारम् = any defender;
नाथ हीनेन = resembling an orphan.
“She, with dark-cornered eyes, who has fallen into the midst of demons, is surely not getting any defender, she resembling an orphan, though I am her support.”
कदा विक्षोभ्य रक्षांसि सा विधूय उत्पतिष्यति |
राक्षसीमध्यगा शेते स्नुषा दशरथस्य च || 6.5.16.
कथम्= how;
जनकराजस्य दुहिता = Seetha; the daughter of king Janaka;
मम च = my;
प्रिया= darling;
दशरथस्य च = and Dasaratha’s;
स्नुषा = daughter-in-law;
शेते = is sleeping;
राक्षसीमध्यगा = in the midst of ogresses?
“How Seetha the daughter of King Janaka, my darling and Dasaratha’s daughter-in-law is sleeping among ogresses?”
अविक्षोभ्याणि रक्षांसि सा विधूयोत्पतिष्यति |
विधूय जलदान् नीलान् शशि लेखा शरत्स्व् इव || 6.5.17.
सा = Seetha;
उत्पतिष्यति = will come out;
विधूय = driving away (through my force)
अविक्षोभ्याणि = the unassailable;
रक्षांसि = demons;
विधूय = as driving away;
नीलान् = black;
जलदान् = clouds;
शशि लेखा= by a digit of the moon;
शरत्सु = in autumn.
“Seetha will come out, driving away (through my force) the unassailable demons, as driving away black clouds by a digit of the moon, in autumn.”
स्वभाव तनुका नूनम् शोकेन अनशनेन च |
भूयस् तनुतरा सीता देश काल विपर्ययात् || 6.5.18.
सीता = Seetha;
स्वभाव तनुका= who by nature is slender;
नूनम् = will undoubtedly;
भूय: = further;
तनुतरा = become more lean;
शोकेन = because of anguish;
अनशनेन = abstinence from food;
देश काल विपर्ययात् = and adverse position of time and place.
“Seetha, who by nature is slender, will undoubtedly become leaner further because of her anguish, her abstinence from food and her adverse position of time and place.”
कदा नु राक्षस इन्द्रस्य निधाय उरसि सायकान् |
सीताम् प्रत्याहरिष्यामि शोकम् उत्सृज्य मानसम् || 6.5.19.
कदाम् = when;
प्रत्याहरिष्यामि = shall I bring back;
सीताम् = Seetha;
निधाय = having lodged;
सायकान् = arrows;
राक्षस इन्द्रस्य= in Ravana’s urasi = chest;
उत्सृज्य = and having abandoned;
मानसम् = (this) mental;
शोकम् = agony?
“When shall I bring back Seetha, having lodged arrows in Ravana’s chest and having abandoned this mental agony?”
कदा नु खलु माम् साध्वी सीता अमर सुता उपमा |
स उत्कण्ठा कण्ठम् आलम्ब्य मोक्ष्यति आनन्दजम् जलम् || 6.5.20.
कदा खलु = when indeed shall;
सीता = Seetha;
साध्वी = the virtuous woman;
सुरसुतोपमा= similar to the child of a celestial;
सोत्कण्ठा= with an excited longing;
आलम्ब्य = embrace;
मे = my;
कण्ठम् = neck;
मोक्ष्यति नु = (and) will release;
जलम् = tears;
aanandajam = begotten of joy?
“When indeed Seetha the virtuous lady similar to the child of a celestial, with an excited longing, will embrace my neck and release tears of joy?”
कदा शोकम् इमम् घोरम् मैथिली विप्रयोगजम् |
सहसा विप्रमोक्ष्यामि वासः शुक्ल इतरम् यथा || 6.5.21.
कदा = when;
विप्रमोक्ष्यामि नु = shall I thrillingly abandon;
इमम् = this;
घोरम् = terrible;
शोकम् = anguish;
मैथिली विप्रयोगजम्= born out of my separation from;
सहसा = so Seetha soon;
शुक्ल इतरम् वासम् यथा = as (abandoning) a soiled clothing?
“When shall I thrillingly abandon this terrible anguish, born out of my separation from Seetha so soon, as we abandon a soiled clothing?”
एवम् विलपतस् तस्य तत्र रामस्य धीमतः |
दिन क्षयान् मन्द वपुर् भास्करो अस्तम् उपागमत् || 6.5.22.
तस्य = (while) that;
धीमतः = sagacious;
रामस्य = Rama;
विलपत: = was lamenting;
तत्र = there;
एवम् = thus;
भास्कर: = sun;
मन्द वपु: = sun;
दिन क्षयात् = due to day-decline;
अस्तम् उपागतः = approached dusk.
While that sagacious Rama was lamenting thus there, the sun, the weak-rayed due to day-decline, approached the dusk.
आश्वासितो लक्ष्मणेन रामः संध्याम् उपासत |
स्मरन् कमल पत्र अक्षीम् सीताम् शोक आकुली कृतः || 6.5.23.
आश्वासित: = consoled;
लक्ष्मणेन = by Lakshmana;
रामः = Rama;
शोक आकुली कृतः= made overcome by anguish;
स्मरौ = recollecting;
सीताम् = Seetha;
कमल पत्र अक्षीम्= the lotus-eyes;
उपासत: = worshipped;
संध्याम् = the evening-twilight.
Lakshmana consoled Rama who was overwhelmed with anguish, duly recollecting the lotus-eyed Seetha. Thereafter, Rama worshipped the evening-twilight.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे पञ्चम: सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fifth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
NEXT: SARGA 6
Janamejayan's धर्म जिज्ञासा 