Compassion for Sita

प्रशस्य तु प्रशस्तव्यां सीतां तां हरिपुंगवः ।

praśasya tu praśastavyāṃ sītāṃ tāṃ haripuṃgavaḥ |

After praising worthy Sita and Rama, delightful in his virtues,

गुणाभिरामं रामं च पुनश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत् ॥

guṇābhirāmaṃ rāmaṃ ca punaścintāparo’bhavat ||

the foremost vanara again became absorbed in thought.

स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः ।

sa muhūrtamiva dhyātvā bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ |

After pondering briefly, his eyes filled with tears,

सीतामाश्रित्य तेजस्वी हनूमान् विललाप ह ॥

sītāmāśritya tejasvī hanūmān vilalāpa ha ||

radiant Hanuman lamented on Sita's behalf.

मान्या गुरुविनीतस्य लक्ष्मणस्य गुरुप्रिया ।

mānyā guruvinītasya lakṣmaṇasya gurupriyā |

'If Sita, honored by disciplined Lakshmana as his elder's beloved,

यदि सीता हि दुःखार्ता कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥

yadi sītā hi duḥkhārtā kālo hi duratikramaḥ ||

is afflicted by sorrow, then indeed fate is difficult to overcome.'

रामस्य व्यवसायज्ञा लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः ।

rāmasya vyavasāyajñā lakṣmaṇasya ca dhīmataḥ |

'Knowing the determination of Rama and wise Lakshmana,

नात्यर्थं क्षुभ्यते देवी गंगेव जलदागमे ॥

nātyarthaṃ kṣubhyate devī gaṃgeva jaladāgame ||

the lady is not shaken beyond measure, like the Ganga at the rains' arrival.'

तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्तां तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम् ।

tulyaśīlavayovṛttāṃ tulyābhijanalakṣaṇām |

'Matched in character, age, conduct, noble birth, and signs,

राघवोऽर्हति वैदेहीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा ॥

rāghavo’rhati vaidehīṃ taṃ ceyamasitekṣaṇā ||

Raghava deserves Sita, and this dark-eyed woman deserves him.'

तां दृष्ट्वा नवहेमाभां लोककान्तामिव श्रियम् ।

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā navahemābhāṃ lokakāntāmiva śriyam |

Seeing her bright as new gold, like prosperity beloved by the world,

जगाम मनसा रामं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥

jagāma manasā rāmaṃ vacanaṃ cedamabravīt ||

he thought of Rama and spoke these words.

अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्या हतो वाली महाबलः ।

asyā hetorviśālākṣyā hato vālī mahābalaḥ |

'For this wide-eyed woman's sake, powerful Vali was killed,

रावणप्रतिमो वीर्ये कबन्धश्च निपातितः ॥

rāvaṇapratimo vīrye kabandhaśca nipātitaḥ ||

and Kabandha, equal to Ravana in strength, was brought down.'

विराधश्च हतः संख्ये राक्षसो भीमविक्रमः ।

virādhaśca hataḥ saṃkhye rākṣaso bhīmavikramaḥ |

'The fiercely powerful rakshasa Viradha too was slain in combat,

वने रामेण विक्रम्य महेन्द्रेणेव शम्बरः ॥

vane rāmeṇa vikramya mahendreṇeva śambaraḥ ||

Rama displaying valor in the forest as Indra did against Shambara.'

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम् ।

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām |

'Fourteen thousand rakshasas of terrible deeds

निहतानि जनस्थाने शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ॥

nihatāni janasthāne śarairagniśikhopamaiḥ ||

were slain at Janasthana with arrows like flames.'

खरश्च निहतः संख्ये त्रिशिराश्च निपातितः ।

kharaśca nihataḥ saṃkhye triśirāśca nipātitaḥ |

'Khara was killed in battle, Trishiras was struck down,

दूषणश्च महातेजा रामेण विदितात्मना ॥

dūṣaṇaśca mahātejā rāmeṇa viditātmanā ||

and mighty Dushana was slain by self-possessed Rama.'

ऐश्वर्यं वानराणां च दुर्लभं वालिपालितम् ।

aiśvaryaṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca durlabhaṃ vālipālitam |

'For her sake renowned Sugriva obtained the hard-to-win

अस्या निमित्ते सुग्रीवः प्राप्तवाँल्लोकविश्रुतः ॥

asyā nimitte sugrīvaḥ prāptavām̐llokaviśrutaḥ ||

sovereignty of the vanaras that Vali had held.'

सागरश्च मयाऽऽक्रान्तः श्रीमान् नदनदीपतिः ।

sāgaraśca mayā’’krāntaḥ śrīmān nadanadīpatiḥ |

'For this wide-eyed woman's sake I crossed the glorious ocean,

अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्याः पुरी चेयं निरीक्षिता ॥

asyā hetorviśālākṣyāḥ purī ceyaṃ nirīkṣitā ||

lord of streams and rivers, and inspected this city.'

यदि रामः समुद्रान्तां मेदिनीं परिवर्तयेत् ।

yadi rāmaḥ samudrāntāṃ medinīṃ parivartayet |

'If Rama overturned the earth up to its oceans, or even the world,

अस्याः कृते जगच्चापि युक्तमित्येव मे मतिः ॥

asyāḥ kṛte jagaccāpi yuktamityeva me matiḥ ||

for her sake, I would consider it fitting.'

राज्यं वा त्रिषु लोकेषु सीता वा जनकात्मजा ।

rājyaṃ vā triṣu lokeṣu sītā vā janakātmajā |

'Whether one compares Janaka's daughter with sovereignty over all three worlds,

त्रैलोक्यराज्यं सकलं सीताया नाप्नुयात् कलाम् ॥

trailokyarājyaṃ sakalaṃ sītāyā nāpnuyāt kalām ||

that entire sovereignty would not equal a fraction of Sita's value.'

इयं सा धर्मशीलस्य जनकस्य महात्मनः ।

iyaṃ sā dharmaśīlasya janakasya mahātmanaḥ |

'This is Sita, steadfast toward her husband,

सुता मैथिलराजस्य सीता भर्तृदृढव्रता ॥

sutā maithilarājasya sītā bhartṛdṛḍhavratā ||

daughter of noble, righteous Janaka, king of Mithila.'

उत्थिता मेदिनीं भित्त्वा क्षेत्रे हलमुखक्षते ।

utthitā medinīṃ bhittvā kṣetre halamukhakṣate |

'She arose from the earth, opened by the plough's blade in a field,

पद्मरेणुनिभैः कीर्णा शुभैः केदारपांसुभिः ॥

padmareṇunibhaiḥ kīrṇā śubhaiḥ kedārapāṃsubhiḥ ||

covered with auspicious soil like lotus pollen.'

विक्रान्तस्यार्यशीलस्य संयुगेष्वनिवर्तिनः ।

vikrāntasyāryaśīlasya saṃyugeṣvanivartinaḥ |

'She is the renowned eldest daughter-in-law of King Dasharatha,

स्नुषा दशरथस्यैषा ज्येष्ठा राज्ञो यशस्विनी ॥

snuṣā daśarathasyaiṣā jyeṣṭhā rājño yaśasvinī ||

valiant, noble in conduct, and never retreating in battle.'

धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य रामस्य विदितात्मनः ।

dharmajñasya kṛtajñasya rāmasya viditātmanaḥ |

'This beloved wife of Rama, knower of duty, grateful and self-possessed,

इयं सा दयिता भार्या राक्षसीवशमागता ॥

iyaṃ sā dayitā bhāryā rākṣasīvaśamāgatā ||

has fallen into the power of rakshasis.'

सर्वान् भोगान् परित्यज्य भर्तृस्नेहबलात् कृता ।

sarvān bhogān parityajya bhartṛsnehabalāt kṛtā |

'Abandoning every pleasure through the strength of love for her husband,

अचिन्तयित्वा कष्टानि प्रविष्टा निर्जनं वनम् ॥

acintayitvā kaṣṭāni praviṣṭā nirjanaṃ vanam ||

she entered the lonely forest without dwelling upon its hardships.'

संतुष्टा फलमूलेन भर्तृशुश्रूषणापरा ।

saṃtuṣṭā phalamūlena bhartṛśuśrūṣaṇāparā |

'Content with roots and fruit and devoted to caring for her husband,

या परां भजते प्रीतिं वनेऽपि भवने यथा ॥

yā parāṃ bhajate prītiṃ vane’pi bhavane yathā ||

she found the highest happiness in the forest as in a palace.'

सेयं कनकवर्णांगी नित्यं सुस्मितभाषिणी ।

seyaṃ kanakavarṇāṃgī nityaṃ susmitabhāṣiṇī |

'That golden-limbed woman, always speaking with a gentle smile,

सहते यातनामेतामनर्थानामभागिनी ॥

sahate yātanāmetāmanarthānāmabhāginī ||

now endures this torment though she deserves no such misfortune.'

इमां तु शीलसम्पन्नां द्रष्टुमिच्छति राघवः ।

imāṃ tu śīlasampannāṃ draṣṭumicchati rāghavaḥ |

'Raghava longs to see this virtuous woman whom Ravana has oppressed,

रावणेन प्रमथितां प्रपामिव पिपासितः ॥

rāvaṇena pramathitāṃ prapāmiva pipāsitaḥ ||

as a thirsty person longs for a place of water.'

अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभाद् राघवः प्रीतिमेष्यति ।

asyā nūnaṃ punarlābhād rāghavaḥ prītimeṣyati |

'Surely Raghava will rejoice upon recovering her,

राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनः प्राप्येव मेदिनीम् ॥

rājā rājyaparibhraṣṭaḥ punaḥ prāpyeva medinīm ||

like a king regaining the land from which he was driven.'

कामभोगैः परित्यक्ता हीना बन्धुजनेन च ।

kāmabhogaiḥ parityaktā hīnā bandhujanena ca |

'Deprived of pleasures and separated from her relatives,

धारयत्यात्मनो देहं तत्समागमकाङ्क्षिणी ॥

dhārayatyātmano dehaṃ tatsamāgamakāṅkṣiṇī ||

she sustains her body through the hope of meeting him.'

नैषा पश्यति राक्षस्यो नेमान् पुष्पफलद्रुमान् ।

naiṣā paśyati rākṣasyo nemān puṣpaphaladrumān |

'She does not truly notice the rakshasis or these flowering, fruitful trees;

एकस्थहृदया नूनं राममेवानुपश्यति ॥

ekasthahṛdayā nūnaṃ rāmamevānupaśyati ||

with her heart fixed in one place, she sees only Rama.'

भर्ता नाम परं नार्याः शोभनं भूषणादपि ।

bhartā nāma paraṃ nāryāḥ śobhanaṃ bhūṣaṇādapi |

'In this view, a husband is a woman's highest adornment, beyond ornaments;

एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभनार्हा न शोभते ॥

eṣā hi rahitā tena śobhanārhā na śobhate ||

deprived of him, this woman worthy of splendor does not shine.'

दुष्करं कुरुते रामो हीनो यदनया प्रभुः ।

duṣkaraṃ kurute rāmo hīno yadanayā prabhuḥ |

'Rama does something difficult: separated from her,

धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न दुःखेनावसीदति ॥

dhārayatyātmano dehaṃ na duḥkhenāvasīdati ||

he maintains his life rather than collapsing beneath his pain.'

इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणाम् ।

imāmasitakeśāntāṃ śatapatranibhekṣaṇām |

'Knowing that this dark-haired, lotus-eyed woman, worthy of happiness,

सुखार्हां दुःखितां ज्ञात्वा ममापि व्यथितं मनः ॥

sukhārhāṃ duḥkhitāṃ jñātvā mamāpi vyathitaṃ manaḥ ||

is suffering, even my own mind is wounded.'

क्षितिक्षमा पुष्करसंनिभेक्षणा

kṣitikṣamā puṣkarasaṃnibhekṣaṇā

'Patient as the earth and lotus-eyed,

या रक्षिता राघवलक्ष्मणाभ्याम् ।

yā rakṣitā rāghavalakṣmaṇābhyām |

she was protected by Raghava and Lakshmana.

सा राक्षसीभिर्विकृतेक्षणाभिः

sā rākṣasībhirvikṛtekṣaṇābhiḥ

Now she is guarded beneath a tree

संरक्ष्यते सम्प्रति वृक्षमूले ॥

saṃrakṣyate samprati vṛkṣamūle ||

by rakshasis with distorted eyes.'

हिमहतनलिनीव नष्टशोभा

himahatanalinīva naṣṭaśobhā

'Like a lotus struck by frost, its beauty lost,

व्यसनपरम्परया निपीड्यमाना ।

vyasanaparamparayā nipīḍyamānā |

oppressed by a succession of calamities,

सहचररहितेव चक्रवाकी

sahacararahiteva cakravākī

like a chakravaka separated from its mate,

जनकसुता कृपणां दशां प्रपन्ना ॥

janakasutā kṛpaṇāṃ daśāṃ prapannā ||

Janaka's daughter has fallen into a pitiable state.'

अस्या हि पुष्पावनताग्रशाखाः

asyā hi puṣpāvanatāgraśākhāḥ

'These ashoka trees, their upper branches bowed by flowers,

शोकं दृढं वै जनयन्त्यशोकाः ।

śokaṃ dṛḍhaṃ vai janayantyaśokāḥ |

surely produce deep sorrow for her;

हिमव्यपायेन च शीतरश्मि-

himavyapāyena ca śītaraśmi-

so does the cool-rayed moon, risen clear of mist

रभ्युत्थितो नैकसहस्ररश्मिः ॥

rabhyutthito naikasahasraraśmiḥ ||

with its many thousands of beams.'

इत्येवमर्थं कपिरन्ववेक्ष्य

ityevamarthaṃ kapiranvavekṣya

Considering the matter in this way,

सीतेयमित्येव तु जातबुद्धिः ।

sīteyamityeva tu jātabuddhiḥ |

now convinced, 'This is Sita,'

संश्रित्य तस्मिन् निषसाद वृक्षे

saṃśritya tasmin niṣasāda vṛkṣe

the strong, swift, foremost vanara

बली हरीणामृषभस्तरस्वी ॥

balī harīṇāmṛṣabhastarasvī ||

remained concealed within that tree.