Earth -- Ear of Infinite : Suicide

Twenty sixth Chapter

Sita’s decision to commit suicide

(Sita who is extremely sad lists out logical reasons for her to commit suicide and decides on that course)

That wailing daughter of Janaka, with a bent head, eye full of tears and crying like a child was similar to the one who is mad, who has lost her wisdom and who is fear struck and started wailing like a mare rolling in mud to get rid of her tiresomeness. 1-2

When Raghava (One who belongs to the clan of Raghu) was ignorant and away, this rakshasa called Ravana, who can assume any shape he wants, attacked me and abducted me and brought me here, when was crying. 3

Being in the custody of Rakshasis and being bullied by them terribly, I have become very sad and very much worried and so I am not interested in living further. 4

Without Rama the great charioteer and being in the custody of Rakshasis, there is no purpose in my living even with riches and ornaments. 5

My mind must be a very hard granite stone or a thing which does not erode or die, because even with all this sorrow, it is not breaking. 6

Being with less of virtue and not being a lady, I should have been destroyed and in spite of being not in the company of Rama this sinner is protecting her life for this small period. 7

What interest have I to look after my body and continue to live after parting from my darling, who is the lord of all land surrounded by the sea and who has such a sweet desirable speech? 8

I would not like to tolerate this great sorrow of being away from him for a long time and I do not mind even if I am cut in to pieces or eaten alive. 9

I would not even touch this base thief Ravana by even by my left feet and where is the question of my making love to him? 10

That cruel one, who desires to request me to be his wife does not understand when he is being rejected by me with aversion, nor does he understand his stature nor his family. 11

I would not accede to Ravana , even if I am crushed or cut or put in a raging fire. What is the point in this waiting? 12

I doubt that Sri Rama who is very knowledgeable, grateful, shows mercy to those in danger, well behaved and very famous, is devoid of any pity towards me due to my lack of luck. 13

Why is he, who exterminated fourteen thousand Rakshasas all alone in Janasthana not interested in saving me? 14

This Ravana with very little valor has imprisoned me and I do not have any doubt that my husband is capable of winning him in war. 15

Why is it that Rama who killed that great Rakshasa Viradha in Dandakaranya not freeing me from this custody and taking me back? 16

(Viradha was a Gandharwa who was cured by his master Kubhera.He fought with Rama and Lakshmana and was killed)

It is true that this Lanka is in the middle of the ocean and prevents the entry of outsiders but I do not think that it is capable of preventing the arrows of Raghava. 17

What could be the reason that a very stable hero like Sri Rama does not come here and release his darling wife, I do not understand. 18

I believe that the great valorous one who is the elder brother of Lakshmana does not know that I am here, for once he knows about it he will not tolerate this insult. 19

That great king of hawks who would have rushed to Raghava and informed him that I have been abducted by Ravana fell in the battle. 20

(She is referring to Jatayu, the hawk son of Varuna, who fought with Ravana and died in the battle. However he was alive till he told Rama that Ravana had abducted her. Rama cremated him in the forest with all honours. Sita was ignorant of this story)

In spite of the fact that the Jatayu, who no doubt is old was defeated in the wrestling fight against Ravana and was defeated though he did a very great job. 21

If that Raghava knows that I am here, immediately with great anger using his arrows he would make the world devoid of Rakshasas , he would blow Lanka away , dry the great ocean and even destroy the name and fame of Ravana. 22-23

Afterwards, similar to my crying and wailing, in every house of Sri Lanka, these Rakshasis who have become widows would cry and possibly cry more. 24

Rama accompanied by Lakshmana would search and find out Lanka, and it is definite that the enemy, once found out by them will not even live for a second more. 25

Soon, this Lanka is going to be filled with the smoke emanating from burning coffins and would be like a cremation ground filled with crowds of hawks. 26

Within a short time my desire would be fulfilled and definitely and this bad conduct of yours would lead to the destruction of you all. 27

Within a short time this Lanka is going to loose its luster and very many bad omens are visible even now. 28

When the great sinner and the worst among Rakshasas is killed then this Sri Lanka which is impregnable , is going to get weakened like a lady who has become a widow. 29

This fertile and rich Sri Lanka which has lots of holy festivals and the Rakshasas would become leaderless like a lady who has lost her husband. 30

In this place, I am going to hear soon the wailing of Rakshasis who are sad and pained from every house. 31

Once the red eyed valorous Sri Rama knows that I am alive and in the house of Ravana, then definitely, Lanka would be burned by the arrows of Sri Rama and would become dark by losing its luster and would be filled with dead Rakshasas. 32-33

The limit of time which has been fixed by this cruel and base Ravana is approaching near. 34

These Rakshasas, who are sinners do not know that they are performing acts which should not be done and would as a result, danger would definitely come to all those who live in this town. 35

These flesh eating Rakshasas do not understand what is just action and it is definite that they would fix me for breakfast. 36

Without seeing Rama, who has eyes with red corners and who is pleasing to the eye, what can IÂ Â who am very sorrowful do? 37

If it happens that any one here, would give me poison, I being without my husband would go and see the God of death. 38

Rama who is the elder brother of Bharatha must be ignorant of the fact that I am alive for if not they both would not spare any effort to find me in this earth. 39

That valorous elder brother of Lakshmana due to the sorrow because of me, must have left this body and must have reached heaven. 40

How lucky are those devas, Gandarwas, Siddhas and sages because they are able to see the lotus eyed Sri Rama who is my lord. 41

(Assumes Lord Rama has reached the heaven)

Possibly there is nothing I can do as a wife to Sri Rama who is very wise, who is very charitable, who is like a royal sage and who is the personification of God. 42

Thankless people show love towards you when you are near them and do not show love when you are not near, but Rama is never like that. 43

Is it because I do not have desirable traits or is it because that I am not lucky, that I, in spite of being a woman, is suffering because of the absence of Rama. 44

I think it would be better for me to die rather than live away from Rama who is a great man, who has a faultless character, who is heroic and who is capable of destroying his enemies. 45

Or is it that those two brothers who follow just action and who are sterling among men have decided to throw away their ornaments and live in the forest eating only fruits and roots.? 46

Or is it possible that those heroic brothers have been killed using deceit by Ravana who is the king of Rakshasa and a bad one? 47

In this state I wish to die but I do not get a suitable death even in this very sad state. 48

Those who do not have likes and dislikes are very great souls , for they have won over their senses , they are very lucky, they are really sages, they are recognized by the world and are the ones who should beÂ really applauded. 49

When pleasures come , mind is not having sorrow. When sadness comes there is pain in the mind. My salutations to those who stand separately from both these states. 50

I who am not able to achieve such victory over mind have got away from my husband Rama who lives according to law and am in the custody of Ravana and so I am going to commit suicide. 51

Thus ends the twenty sixth chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.

Twenty seventh Chapter

The dream of Trijata

(This chapter is about the dream of Trijata-one of the guards of Sita, who is the daughter of Vibhishana, which foretells good tidings for Sita and Rama and very bad happenings to Ravana and other Rakshasas.)

Having been told like this the horrible Rakshasis became livid with anger and some of them went to tell it to the bad soul Ravana. 1

Then the terrible looking Rakshasis surrounded Sita and told the following words, which lead to the same result and which are hurting to the ears. 2

Hey ignorant Sita who has decided upon to do sinful act , today and now itself we the Rakshasis are going to eat your flesh. 3

Seeing the methods of bullying used by them which are not lady like, a very elderly and wise Rakshasi called Trijata spoke the following words: 4

Hey sinners, you can eat me and please do not kill Sita who is the daughter of Janaka, who is the daughter in law of Dasaratha and who respects all others. 5

Just now I saw a dream and truly I saw it. When thinking about it I am upset , my hairs stand upright for the dream is about the fall of Rakshasas and the victory of her husband. 6

Thus informed by Trijata, those Rakshasis who had lost their senses due to anger were suddenly full of fear and asked Trijata, What is the type of dream that you have seen at night? Please explain it in detail. 7

Once she heard the words emanating from the mouth of Rakshasis ,Trijata started talking to them about her dream. 8

Raghava clothed in white silk and wearing white flower garland arrived happily along with Lakshmana in a palanquin made of ivory and carried by thousand swans and traveling in the sky. 9

I saw in my dream Sita also clothed in white silk who had reached the White Mountain surrounded by the sea and being happy with Sri Rama like the sun light with the sun. 10

(please note that dressing in white was considered as auspicious during the time of Ramayana)

I Saw Rama along with Lakshmana arriving ,riding on a mountain like , four tusked great elephant. 11

Then those two human heroes clothed in white silk and wearing white flower garland , shining in their own luster approached the daughter of Janaka. 12

Then Janaki from that mountain itself climbed on to the neck of the elephant which was looked after by her husband. 13

Then she rose from the lap of her lotus eyed husband and stated patting the moon and the sun 14

Then the elephant ridden by those two princes and the broad eyed Sita came and stood on the sky just above Lanka. 15

Then accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, Rama climbed on a chariot drawn by eight pairs of bulls and reached here on his own . 16

I saw Sri Rama, who is capable of exterminating problems swallowing all the three worlds along with several globes and its moving and not moving inhabitants. 17

From the middle of the waters of the ocean of milk, one white mountain rose up. On the top of the mountain was a very big white elephant with four tusks. And on the top of it the lotus eyed Sri Rama, his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita were seated. 18-20

Sita arose from there and embraced the pretty, full moon with both her hands and was there as a part of her husband. 21

After that in another place, the lotus eyed Rama who was born in the Kakustha clan and who was a gentleman, sat on a wonderful seat facing east and was anointed by all the holy waters by the group of great sages ,I also saw him being worshipped by all devas. 22-23

There she who is the daughter of Janaka, who was having a very pretty middle part, clothed in white silk, wearing white flower garlands and also anointed by scents from several holy flowers shined greatly. 24

After this Devas accompanied by Gandarwas, sages and Sidhas keeping Lord Brahma in their front saluted Sri Rama. 25

The great Sri Rama who was expert in pleasing every one became himself Lord Vishnu and sat on a holy seat. I also saw him like this. 26

The red eyed gentleman Sri Rama who was the lord of all worlds and who was a descendent of Raghu, shined there as the ultimate truth, as the ultimate essence, as the personification of ultimate knowledge, as the ultimate mediation, as the ultimate cause, as the ultimate place, as the ultimate cause of everything, holding conch, holy wheel and mace in his hands , with very long eyes, with Sri Vatsa on his chest, as the kingdom leading to ultimate deliverance , as somebody who can never be defeated, as some body who is permanent, as somebody who is perennial, as Vishnu the abode of peace and as some one who was glowing greatly. 27-29

Then the king of devas, manes, great sages, gandarwas, Vidhyadaras, the chief of Pannagas surrounded Rama , who was crowned and with folded hands sang his praise. 30

Then all the Apsaras (Deva dancers) joined together sang with happiness and danced accompanied by necessary musical instruments. Along with them instruments like Veena, Muraja, drums and conches together made pleasant royal music. 31

After this I also saw the real hero Rama ,in another place. That prince among men with Lakshmana ,his brother and his wife Sita was riding the sun like holy Puspaka Vimana and was traveling towards the north. 32-33

(In the Northern side of India, Gods used to reside and was considered holy)

I saw like this in my dream the valorous Sri Rama who was very similar to Lord Vishnu along with his brother Lakshmana and with Sita. 34

That resplendent Sri Rama who cannot be won over either by Devas or asuras or rakshasas or any body else is similar to the fact that heaven cannot be won over by sinners. 35

Not only this, I saw the head shaved Ravana who had applied oil all over , clothed in red cloths, tipsy being drunk and wearing KaraVira flowers. 36

(Here red colour is indicative of bad. This stanza also indicated shaving of head indicates miserable state.)

At another time, I saw theÂ head shaved Ravana who has fallen to the earth from Pushpaka Vimana being forcibly dragged by a lady wearing a black dress. 37

He wore a red garland and red Thilaka and was traveling to the south riding a chariot dragged by donkey and was drowned in a hole in the mud. 38

I saw a black lady laden with mud all over her body wearing a cloth smelling of blood dragging the ten headed one holding him tightly on the neck towards the south. 39

He was riding fast towards the south on a donkey having lost his senses by drinking oil, laughing, tottering, with dulled senses and with weak body 40

(God of death and hell were supposed to be in the Southern direction)

I also saw the king Ravana falling from the donkey with head down wards and stunned by fear and ultimately falling on earth. 41

That Ravana suddenly got up, was caught by fear, started trembling, was shaking because he was drunk, was shouting many meaningless words like a mad man and fell in a intolerable, very dark, hell like a shit pit and went down in to that. 42-43

I also the very strong Kumbhakarna in there. I also saw all the sons of Ravana applied with oil and head shaved in side there. 44

Ravana riding on a pig, Indrajit riding on a crocodile and Kumbhakarna riding on a camel went towards the south. 45

But I saw in my dream only Vibishana carrying a white umbrella clothed in white silk, wearing a white garland , anointed with white sandal paste and accompanied by the music of Dndhubhi and honoured by dance and music. 46

There I saw Vibishana along with four ministers riding on a holy four tusked elephant which was equal to a cloud and which was roaring like a cloud reaching Sri Rama.â 47

I also saw huge crowds of drunk Rakshasas in blood drenched cloth , wearing blood red garlands along with the sound of drums and music. 48

I saw the pretty city of Lanka which has horses, chariots and elephants drowning in the sea with its towers and decorations broken down. 49

I saw in my dream, the city of Lanka which is well protected by Ravana being burnt down by a monkey who was the emissary of Rama. 50

All the Rakshasis were loudly crying and dancing after drinking oil and in the city of Lanka which had turned in to ashes, all Rakshasa chieftains like Kumbhakarna , all dressed in red ,were getting drowned in a pit of cow dung. 51-52

Raghava who cannot tolerate crimes is going to kill Ravana along with all his people and is going take back Sita. You will see this and you better run and hide yourself. 53

Raghava will not forgive you all for terrorizing and bullying his wife who is his darling, who is honoured by him and who accompanied him to live in the forest. 54

So let your cruel words stop, talk to her and console her .Let us all beg the daughter of Videha and I feel that is only the good decision. 55-56

This very sad lady about whom this dream was seen is going to get out of the different kinds of sorrow and is going to join back her very great husband. 57

Hey, Rakshasis, what is the use of hesitating, go and beg the forgiveness of her who has been terrorized. 58

All the Rakshasas are going to suffer grave danger from Raghava. 59

Hey, Rakshasis, there is no doubt that the princess of Mithila who is the daughter of Janaka would get quickly pleased with you as soon as you bow to her. She alone is sufficient to save us all from this grave danger. 60

Not only that, I do not see even a bit of anything which is not aÂ goodÂ omen in all parts of her body. 61

The only sorrowful state which had happened to her, who attained the Vimana in my dream and who should not have got all this sorrow is her being dulled by the dirt 62

I am seeing that, the downfall of the king of Rakshasas, victory of Rama and the fulfillment of desires of the daughter of Videha has come very near. 63

Good omens are happening to her who is going to hear pleasant news. I am seeing that her long left eye, which is like a lotus petal, is beating about. Apart from that only the left arm of Vaidehi is throbbing because of pleasure. Also her left thigh, which is like the trunk of an elephant, is throbbing. All this indicates that Raghava is standing in front of her eye. 64-66

Not only that, the bird living on the branches with great zest and happiness is making lovely soft soundÂ indicating the safe arrival of someone again and again and appears as if it is helping her by its song. 67

Thus ends the twenty seventh chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.

Twenty seventh Chapter