Introduction

Seetha calls out Rama and others and bursts into a wail not being able to endure the threats of ogre women.

Verse 1

अथ तासां वदन्तीनां परुषं दारुणं बहु |
राक्षसीनामसौम्यानां रुरोद जनकात्मजा || ५-२५-१

As those ogre woman with a cruel nature were speaking a lot harshly and horribly, Seetha cried.

1; atha = thereafter; taasaam = (as) those; raakshasiinaam = ogre women; asaumyaanaam = with a cruel nature;vadantiinaam = were speaking; bahu = a lot; parushham = harshly; daaruNam = (and) horribly;janakaatmajaa = Seetha; ruroda = cried.

Verse 2

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही राक्षसीभिर्मनस्विनी |
उवाच परमत्रस्ताबाष्पगद्गदया गिरा || ५-२५-२

Thus being spoken to by ogre women, Seetha with a good mind being frightened a lot spoke as follows with a voice indistinct due to tears.

2. evam = thus; uktaa = being spoken to; raakshasiibhiH = by ogre women; vaidehii = Seetha; manasvinii = with a good mind; paramatrastaa = being frightened a lot; baashhpa gadgadayaa giraa = with a voice indistinct due to tears; uvaacha = spoke (as follows).

Verse 3

न मानुषी राक्षसस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हति |
कामं खादत मां सर्वा न करिष्यामि वो वचः || ५-२५-३

“A human woman is not suited to become a wife of an ogre. All of you eat me according to your desire. I will not do according to your words.”

3. maanushhii = a human woman; na arhati = is not suited; bhavitum = to become; bhaaryaa = a wife; raakshasasya = of an ogre; sarvaaH = all of you; khaadata = eat; maam = me; kaamam = according to your desire;na karishhyaami = I will not do; vaH = (according to) your; vachaH = words.

Verse 4

सा राक्षसीमध्यगता सीता सुरसुतोपमा |
न शर्म लेभे दुःखार्ता रावणेन च तर्जिता || ५-२५-४

Being in the middle of ogre women, being frightened by Ravana also, like a daughter of gods, that Seetha did not get comfort being tormented by grief.

4. raakshsaiimadhyagataa = being in the middle of ogre women; tarjitaa = being frightened; raavaNena cha = by Ravana also; surasutopamaa = like a daughter of gods; saa siitaa = that Seetha; na lebhe = did not get; sharma = comfort; duHkhaartaa = being tormented by grief.

Verse 5

वेपते स्माधिकं सीता विशन्ती वाङ्गमात्मनः |
वने यथा परिभ्रष्टा मृगी कोकैरिवार्दिता || ५-२५-५

Like a fawn in a forest lost from its herd and tormented by wolves, Seetha was as though sinking into own body and shook a lot.

5. mR^igiiva = like a fawn; vane = in a forest; yuudhaparibhrashhTaa = lost from its herd; arditaa = tormented; kokaiH = by wolves; vishantiiva = (Seetha was) as though sinking (into); aatmanaH = own; aN^gam = body; vepate sma = (and) shook; adhikam = a lot.

Verse 6

सा त्वशोकस्य विपुलां शाखामालम्ब्य पुष्पिताम् |
चिन्तयामास शोकेन भर्तारं भग्नमानसा || ५-२५-६

That Seetha with a broken heart due to grief, held a wide flowering branch of Ashoka tree and thought about Her husband.

6. saa tu = that Seetha; bhagna maanasaa = with a broken heart; shokena = due to grief; aalambya = holding; pushhpitaam shaakhaam = a flowering branch; vipulaam = which was wide; ashokasya = of Ashoka tree; chintayaamaasa = thought; bhartaaram = about husband.

Verse 7

सा स्नापयन्ती विपुलौ स्तनौ नेत्रजलस्रवैः |
चिन्तयन्ती न शोकस्य तदान्तमधिगच्छति || ५-२५-७

Then that Seetha washing Her wide breasts with a flow of tears from eyes and thinking, did not get end of sorrow.

7. tadaa = then; saa = that Seetha; snaapayantii = washing; vipulau stanau = Her wide breasts; netra jala sravaiH = with a flow of tears from eyes; chintayantii = (and) thinking; na adhigachchhati = did not get; antam = end; shokasya = of sorrow.

Verse 8

सा वेपमाना पतिता प्रवाते कदळी यथा |
राक्षसीनां भयत्रस्ता विवर्णवदनाभवत् || ५-२५-८

That Seetha was shaking like a plantain tree fallen down in an exceedingly windy place, trembling with fear of the ogre women, and became with a pale face.

8. saa = that Seetha; vepamaanaa = was shaking; kadaLii yathaa = like a plantain tree; patitaa = fallen down; pravaate = in an exceedingly windy place; raakshasii bhaya saMtrastaa = trembling with fear of the ogre women; abhavat = became; vivarNavadanaa = with a pale face.

Verse 9

तस्याः सा दीर्घविपुला वेपन्त्या सीतया तदा |
ददृशे कम्पिनी वेणी व्याळीव परिसर्पती || ५-२५-९

That moving plait, which was wide and long, of that best woman was seen to be like a serpant in motion.

9. saa kampinii veNii = that moving plait; diirgha vipulaa = which was wide and long; tasyaaH paramstriyaaH = of that best woman; vepantyaaH = trembling; dadR^ishe = was seen (to be); vyaaLiiva = like a serpant;parisarpatii = in motion.

Verse 10

सा निःश्वसन्ती दुःखार्ता शोकोपहतचेतना |
आर्ता व्यसृजदश्रूणि मैथिली विललाप च || ५-२५-१०

That Seetha tormented by grief, with a mind hit by sorrow, struck by calamity was sighing and let down tears and also cried.

10. saa maithilii = that Seetha; duHkhaartaa = tormented by grief; shokopahata chetanaa = with a mind hit by sorrow; aartaa = struck by calamity; niHshvasantii = was sighing; nyasR^ijat = let down; ashruuNi = tears; vilalaapa cha = and also cried.

Verse 11

हा रामेति च दुःखार्ता हा पुनर्लक्ष्मणेति च |
हा श्वश्रु मम कौसल्ये हा सुमित्रेति भामिनी || ५-२५-११

Seetha being tormented by grief said : “Oh! Rama!” and again “Oh! Lakshmana!”,”Oh! Kausalya!, my mother-in-law” “Oh! Sumitra!”

11. bhaaminii = Seetha; duHkhaartaa = being tormented by grief (said) ; haa raameti = Oh! Rama! punaH = again; haa lakshmaNeti = Oh! Lakshmana; haa kausalye = Oh! Kausalya; mama shvashru = my mother-in-law; haa sumitreti = Oh! Sumitra.

Verse 12 & 13

लोकप्रवादः सत्योऽयं पण्डितैः समुदाहृतः |
अकाले दुर्लभो मृत्युः स्त्रिया वा पुरुषस्य वा || ५-२५-१२
यदाहमेवं क्रूराभी राक्षसीभिरिहार्दिता |
जीवामि हीना रामेण मुहूर्तमपि दुःखिता || ५-२५-१३

“I thus being tormented by cruel ogre women here lacking Rama, being tormented by grief, when I am living even for a moment,’ death at wrong time to woman or to a man is hard’ – thus being said this popular saying in the world is true.”

12; 13. aham = I; evam = thus; aarditaa = being tormented; kruuraabhiH raakshasiibhiH = by cruel ogre women; iha = here; hiinaa = lacking; raameNa = Rama; duHkhaartaa = being tormented by grief; yadaa = when; jiivaami = I am living; muhuurtamapi = even for a moment; mR^ityuH = death; akaale = at wrong time; striyaaH vaa = to woman; purushhasya = or to a man; durlabhaH = is hard; samudaahR^itaH = (thus) being said;lokapravaadaH = the popular saying in the world; satyaH = is true.

Verse 14

एषाल्पपुण्या कृपणा विनशिष्याम्यनाथवत् |
समुद्रमथ्ये नौः पूर्णा वायुवेगैरिवाहता || ५-२५-१४

“This me with small merit,wreched, like an orphan, will perish like a ship in the middle of the ocean being hit by the speed of wind.”

14. eshhaa = this me; alpapuNyaa = with small merit;kR^ipaNaa = wretched; anaathavat = like an orphan; vinashishhyaami = will perish; nauH iva = like a ship; samudramadhye = in the middle of the ocean; aahataa = being hit; vaayuvegaiH = by the speed of wind.

Verse 15

भर्तारं तमपश्यन्ती राक्षसीवशमागता |
सीदामि खलु शोकेन कूलं तोयहतं यथा || ५-२५-१५

“Not seeing my husband that Rama and obtaining control of ogre women like a bank hit by water I am verily perishing with sorrow.”

15. apashyantii = not seeing; bhartaaram = my husband; tam = that Rama;aagataa = obtaining; raakshasii vasham = control of ogre women; tiiram yathaa = like a bank; toyahatam = hit by water; siidaami khalu = I am verily perishing; shokena = with sorrow.

Verse 16

तं पद्मदळपत्राक्षं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम् |
धन्याः पश्यन्ति मे नाथं कृतज्ञं प्रियवादिनम् || ५-२५-१६

“Only fortunate see that my husband with eyes like petals of an expanded lotus, walking with the gait of a lion, correct in conduct and a pleasant talker.”

16. dhanyaaH = (only) fortunate; pashyanti = see; tam = that; me = my; naatham = husband; padmadaLapatraaksham = with eyes like petals of an expanded lotus; siMha vikraanta gaaminam = walking with the gait of a lion; kR^itajJNam = correct in conduct; priyavaadiam = pleasant talker;

Verse 17

सर्वथा तेन हीनाया रामेण विदितात्मना |
तीक्ष्णंविषमिवास्वाद्यदुर्लभं मम जीवितम् || ५-२५-१७

“To me lacking that Rama with a famous soul, like after eating a pungent poison life in all ways is hard.”

17. mama = to me; hiinaayaaH = lacking; tena = that Rama; viditaatmanaa = with a famous soul; aasvaadyeva = like after eating; tiikshNam vishham = a pungent poison; jiivitam = life; sarvathaa = in all ways; durlabham = is hard.

Verse 18

कीदृशं तु महापापं मया जन्मान्तरे कृतम् |
येनेदं प्राप्यते दुःखं मया घोरं सुदारुणं || ५-२५-१८

“By what this horrible and very dreadful grief is obtained by me, what kind of great sin had been done by me in another life.”

18. yena = by what; mayaa = by me; praapyate = obtaining; idam = this; duHkham = grief; ghoram = which is horrible;sudaaruNam = very dreadful; kiidR^isham = what kind of; mahaa paapam = great sin;kR^itam = has been done; mayaa = by me; janmaantare = in an other life.

Verse 19

जीवितं त्यक्तुंइच्छामि शोकेन महता वृता |
राक्षसीभिश्च रक्ष्यन्त्या रामो नासाद्यते मया || ५-२५-१९

“Together with great grief, I desire to give away my life. This desire is not obtainable by me. I am well protected by ogre women.”

19. vR^itaa = together; mahataa shokena = with great grief; ichchhaami = I desire; tyaktum = to give away; jiivitum = life; kaamaH = (this) desire; na avaapyate = is not obtainable; mayaa = by me; surakshitaa = I am well protected; raakshasiibhiH = by ogre women.

Verse 20

धिगस्तु खलु मानुष्यं धिगस्तु परवश्यताम् |
न शक्यं यत्परित्यक्तुमात्मच्छन्देन जीवितम् || ५-२५-२०

“Fie upon human condition! Fie upon being in the control of others. By what reason it is not possible according to own desire to give up life.”

20. dhik astu = fie; maanushhyam = upon human condition; dhik astu = fie; paravashyataam = upon being in the control of others; yat = by what reason; aatmachchhandena = according to own desire; na shakyam = it is not possible; parityaktum = to give up; jiivitam = life.