Tweet
Sundara Kaanda - Sarga 21
In this Sarga, Seetā tells Rāvaṇa that she is the devoted wife of Rāma, and she cannot be separated from Rāma any more than sunlight can be separated from the sun. She makes it clear that he cannot hope for her to be his wife. She advices him to be contented with his wives.
She tells him to follow the advice and path of good men and advises him that the best thing for him to do is to take her back to Rāma and seek friendly terms with Rāma. She assures him that Rāma would forgive him, as Rāma is known for his kindness to the people who take refuge in him.
Or else, she warns, that he cannot escape the arrows of Rāma, no matter where he hides and that all his Rākshasas and his city will be destroyed by the arrows of Rāma and Lakshmana.
5.21.1 அ
5.21.1 ஆ
5.21.1 இ
5.21.1 ஈ தஸ்ய தத்வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா
ஸீதா ரௌத்ரஸ்ய ரக்ஷஸ: ।
ஆர்தா தீநஸ்வரா தீநம்
ப்ரத்யுவாச ஸநைர்வச: ॥
tasya tadvacanaṃ ṡrutvā
sītā raudrasya rakṣasaḥ ।
ārtā dīnasvarā dīnam
pratyuvāca ṡanairvacaḥ ॥
On hearing those words of the fierce Rākshasa,
Seetā, feeling distressed and miserable,
answered slowly in a doleful voice:
5.21.2 அ
5.21.2 ஆ
5.21.2 இ
5.21.2 ஈ
5.21.2 உ
5.21.2 ஊ து:கார்தா ருததீ ஸீதா
வேபமாநா தபஸ்விநீ ।
சிந்தயந்தீ வராரோஹா
பதிமேவ பதிவ்ரதா ।
த்ருணமந்தரத: க்ருத்வா
ப்ரத்யுவாச ஸுசிஸ்மிதா ॥
duḥkhārtā rudatī sītā
vēpamānā tapasvinī ।
cintayantī varārōhā
patimēva pativratā ।
tṛṇamantarataḥ kṛtvā
pratyuvāca ṡucismitā ॥
The suffering, crying and trembling Seetā,
of pure smile and beautiful Kaṭee,
a devoted wife, overwhelmed by grief,
answered him, placing a straw between herself and him,
thinking only of her husband:
5.21.3 அ
5.21.3 ஆ
5.21.3 இ
5.21.3 ஈ நிவர்தய மநோ மத்த:
ஸ்வஜநே க்ரியதாம் மந: ।
ந மாம் ப்ரார்தயிதும் யுக்தம்
ஸுஸித்திமிவ பாபக்ருத் ॥
nivartaya manō mattaḥ
svajanē kriyatāṃ manaḥ ।
na māṃ prārthayituṃ yuktam
susiddhimiva pāpakṛt ॥
Give up your hankering for me.
Direct your mind towards your own women.
You cannot hope for me any more than
a sinner can aspire for the ultimate bliss.
5.21.4 அ
5.21.4 ஆ
5.21.4 இ
5.21.4 ஈ அகார்யம் ந மயா கார்யம்
ஏகபத்ந்யா விகர்ஹிதம் ।
குலம் ஸம்ப்ராப்தயா புண்யம்
குலே மஹதி ஜாதயா ॥
akāryaṃ na mayā kāryam
ēkapatnyā vigarhitam ।
kulaṃ samprāptayā puṇyam
kulē mahati jātayā ॥
What should not be done and
would be condemned by the world,
will never be done by a wife devoted to a single man,
especially by one born into a great family
and married into another pious one.
5.21.5 அ
5.21.5 ஆ
5.21.5 இ
5.21.5 ஈ ஏவமுக்த்வா து வைதேஹீ
ராவணம் தம் யஸஸ்விநீ ।
ராக்ஷஸம் ப்ருஷ்டத: க்ருத்வா
பூயோ வசநமப்ரவீத் ॥
ēvamuktvā tu vaidēhī
rāvaṇaṃ taṃ yaṡasvinī ।
rākṣasaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā
bhūyō vacanamabravīt ॥
After saying these words,
Vaidēhi of great renown,
turned her back to Rāvaṇa, the Rākshasa,
and said these words again :
5.21.6 அ
5.21.6 ஆ
5.21.6 இ
5.21.6 ஈ நாஹமௌபயிகீ பார்யா
பரபார்யா ஸதீ தவ ।
ஸாது தர்மமவேக்ஷஸ்வ
ஸாது ஸாதுவ்ரதம் சர ॥
nāhamaupayikī bhāryā
parabhāryā satī tava ।
sādhu dharmamavēkṣasva
sādhu sādhuvrataṃ cara ॥
I, being the devoted wife of another man,
will not make a good wife for you.
Think carefully and deeply about Dharma.
Do what virtuous men do.
5.21.7 அ
5.21.7 ஆ
5.21.7 இ
5.21.7 ஈ யதா தவ ததாந்யேஷாம்
தாரா ரக்ஷ்யா நிஸாசர ।
ஆத்மாநமுபமாம் க்ருத்வா
ஸ்வேஷு தாரேஷு ரம்யதாம் ॥
yathā tava tathānyēṣām
dārā rakṣyā niṡācara ।
ātmānamupamāṃ kṛtvā
svēṣu dārēṣu ramyatām ॥
O Rākshasa! O Night-Rover!
Just like yours, everyone else’s
wives deserve to be protected.
Think how it would be for you
(if your wives are carried off);
be contented enjoying your own wives.
5.21.8 அ
5.21.8 ஆ
5.21.8 இ
5.21.8 ஈ அதுஷ்டம் ஸ்வேஷு தாரேஷு
சபலம் சலிதேந்த்ரியம் ।
நயந்தி நிக்ருதிப்ரஜ்ஞம்
பரதாரா: பராபவம் ॥
atuṣṭaṃ svēṣu dārēṣu
capalaṃ calitēndriyam ।
nayanti nikṛtiprajñam
paradārāḥ parābhavam ॥
The man who is not satisfied with his own wives,
whose mind becomes fickle, senses go awry,
and whose faculties become impaired
will land only in disgrace by (seeking) other’s wives.
5.21.9 அ
5.21.9 ஆ
5.21.9 இ
5.21.9 ஈ இஹ ஸந்தோ ந வா ஸந்தி
ஸதோ வா நாநுவர்தஸே ।
ததாஹி விபரீதா தே
புத்திராசாரவர்ஜிதா ॥
iha santō na vā santi
satō vā nānuvartasē ।
tathāhi viparītā tē
buddhirācāravarjitā ॥
Are there no good men here?
Or are you not listening to whoever is there?
It seems so, given the way your mind has
become perverted, distanced from all conventions.
5.21.10 அ
5.21.10 ஆ
5.21.10 இ
5.21.10 ஈ வசோ மித்யாப்ரணீதாத்மா
பத்யமுக்தம் விசக்ஷணை: ।
ராக்ஷஸாநாமபாவாய
த்வம் வா ந ப்ரதிபத்யஸே ॥
vacō mithyāpraṇītātmā
pathyamuktaṃ vicakṣaṇaiḥ ।
rākṣasānāmabhāvāya
tvaṃ vā na pratipadyasē ॥
Or, are you, with your mind given to hallucinations,
unable to appreciate the wholesome advice given by the wise,
only to see the Rākshasas annihilated?
5.21.11 அ
5.21.11 ஆ
5.21.11 இ
5.21.11 ஈ அக்ருதாத்மாநமாஸாத்ய
ராஜாநமநயே ரதம் ।
ஸம்ருத்தாநி விநஸ்யந்தி
ராஷ்ட்ராணி நகராணி ச ॥
akṛtātmānamāsādya
rājānamanayē ratam ।
samṛddhāni vinaṡyanti
rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca ॥
Countries and cities that are otherwise plentiful
can get totally ruined
under the governance of kings
who lose control of their minds
and indulge in distractions.
5.21.12 அ
5.21.12 ஆ
5.21.12 இ
5.21.12 ஈ ததேயம் த்வாம் ஸமாஸாத்ய
லங்கா ரத்நௌகஸங்குலா ।
அபராதாத்தவைகஸ்ய
நசிராத்விநஸிஷ்யதி ॥
tathēyaṃ tvāṃ samāsādya
laṅkā ratnaughasaṅkulā ।
aparādhāttavaikasya
nacirādvinaṡiṣyati ॥
Similarly, having got you for a king,
this Laṅkā, abundant in every kind of riches,
can get ruined in no time because of
the indiscretion of just one person, you!
5.21.13 அ
5.21.13 ஆ
5.21.13 இ
5.21.13 ஈ ஸ்வக்ருதைர்ஹந்யமாநஸ்ய
ராவணாதீர்கதர்ஸிந: ।
அபிநந்தந்தி பூதாநி
விநாஸே பாபகர்மண: ॥
svakṛtairhanyamānasya
rāvaṇādīrghadarṡinaḥ ।
abhinandanti bhūtāni
vināṡē pāpakarmaṇaḥ ॥
All creatures will rejoice, O Rāvaṇa,
when they see someone who commits sinful acts
perish because of his own faults and myopic vision.
5.21.14 அ
5.21.14 ஆ
5.21.14 இ
5.21.14 ஈ ஏவம் த்வாம் பாபகர்மாணம்
வக்ஷ்யந்தி நிக்ருதா ஜநா: ।
திஷ்ட்யைதத்வ்யஸநம் ப்ராப்தோ
ரௌத்ர இத்யேவ ஹர்ஷிதா: ॥
ēvaṃ tvāṃ pāpakarmāṇam
vakṣyanti nikṛtā janāḥ ।
diṣṭyaitadvyasanaṃ prāptō
raudra ityēva harṣitāḥ ॥
The people who have suffered at your hands
and from your sinful acts,
would (one day) rejoice and exclaim:
“It is by good fortune that
this cruel one met his ruin!”
5.21.15 அ
5.21.15 ஆ
5.21.15 இ
5.21.15 ஈ ஸக்யா லோபயிதும் நாஹம்
சஸ்வர்யேண தநேந வா ।
அநந்யா ராகவேணாஹம்
பாஸ்கரேண ப்ரபா யதா ॥
ṡakyā lōbhayituṃ nāham
caṡvaryēṇa dhanēna vā ।
ananyā rāghavēṇāham
bhāskarēṇa prabhā yathā ॥
It is impossible to tempt me
with the offer of riches or lordship.
I am as inalienable from Rāghava
as sunlight is from the sun.
5.21.16 அ
5.21.16 ஆ
5.21.16 இ
5.21.16 ஈ உபதாய புஜம் தஸ்ய
லோகநாதஸ்ய ஸத்க்ருதம் ।
கதம் நாமோபதாஸ்யாமி
புஜமந்யஸ்ய கஸ்ய சித் ॥
upadhāya bhujaṃ tasya
lōkanāthasya satkṛtam ।
kathaṃ nāmōpadhāsyāmi
bhujamanyasya kasya cit ॥
Having rested on the well-respected
shoulder of the lord of the worlds,
how can I rest on the shoulder of anyone else?
5.21.17 அ
5.21.17 ஆ
5.21.17 இ
5.21.17 ஈ அஹமௌபயிகீ பார்யா
தஸ்யைவ வஸுதாபதே: ।
வ்ரதஸ்நாதஸ்ய விப்ரஸ்ய
வித்யேவ விதிதாத்மந: ॥
ahamaupayikī bhāryā
tasyaiva vasudhāpatēḥ ।
vratasnātasya viprasya
vidyēva viditātmanaḥ ॥
Only he, that lord of the earth,
deserves me as his wife,
just as only a Brāhmaṇa who
has had the ceremonial bath
after completing his studies
and who has realized the Self,
deserves the ultimate knowledge.
5.21.18 அ
5.21.18 ஆ
5.21.18 இ
5.21.18 ஈ ஸாது ராவண ராமேண
மாம் ஸமாநய து:கிதாம் ।
வநே வாஸிதயா ஸார்தம்
கரேண்வேவ கஜாதிபம் ॥
sādhu rāvaṇa rāmēṇa
māṃ samānaya duḥkhitām ।
vanē vāṡitayā sārdham
karēṇvēva gajādhipam ॥
O Rāvaṇa! Unite me, who is mired in sadness,
with Rāma, which is the right thing to do,
like uniting a female elephant
with the lordly elephant in the Vana.
5.21.19 அ
5.21.19 ஆ
5.21.19 இ
5.21.19 ஈ மித்ரமௌபயிகம் கர்தும்
ராம: ஸ்தாநம் பரீப்ஸதா ।
வதம் சாநிச்சதா கோரம்
த்வயாஸௌ புருஷர்ஷப: ॥
mitramaupayikaṃ kartum
rāmaḥ sthānaṃ parīpsatā ।
vadhaṃ cānicchatā ghōram
tvayāsau puruṣarṣabhaḥ ॥
You should seek the friendship of
Rāma, a bull among men, if
you want to remain in your position
and want to avoid a dreadful death.
5.21.20 அ
5.21.20 ஆ
5.21.20 இ
5.21.20 ஈ விதித: ஸ ஹி தர்மஜ்ஞ:
ஸரணாகதவத்ஸல: ।
தேந மைத்ரீ பவது தே
யதி ஜீவிதுமிச்சஸி ॥
viditaḥ sa hi dharmajñaḥ
ṡaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ ।
tēna maitrī bhavatu tē
yadi jīvitumicchasi ॥
That Dharmajña is broad-minded
and is kind and loving towards
anyone seeking refuge in him.
Seek good terms with him if
you want to hang on to your life!
5.21.21 அ
5.21.21 ஆ
5.21.21 இ
5.21.21 ஈ ப்ரஸாதயஸ்வ த்வம் சைநம்
ஸரணாகதவத்ஸலம் ।
மாம் சாஸ்மை நியதோ பூத்வா
நிர்யாதயிதுமர்ஹஸி ॥
prasādayasva tvaṃ cainam
ṡaraṇāgatavatsalam ।
māṃ cāsmai niyatō bhūtvā
niryātayitumarhasi ॥
Plead for his grace, who is kind and loving
towards anyone seeking respite in him.
Think calmly and take me back to him.
5.21.22 அ
5.21.22 ஆ
5.21.22 இ
5.21.22 ஈ ஏவம் ஹி தே பவேத்ஸ்வஸ்தி
ஸம்ப்ரதாய ரகூத்தமே ।
அந்யதா த்வம் ஹி குர்வாணோ
வதம் ப்ராப்ஸ்யஸி ராவண ॥
ēvaṃ hi tē bhavētsvasti
sampradāya raghūttamē ।
anyathā tvaṃ hi kurvāṇō
vadhaṃ prāpsyasi rāvaṇa ॥
This is the only way for you to remain safe and prosper,
by giving me back to that foremost of the Raghus.
O Rāvaṇa, anything short of that which you may do,
would only make you meet with your death! This intrepid roar of the lioness Seetā must be familiar to the readers, from what she said to Rāvaṇa, when he tried to carry her off in the first place (See Araṇya Kāṇḍa, Sargas 47, 53 and 56).
5.21.23 அ
5.21.23 ஆ
5.21.23 இ
5.21.23 ஈ வர்ஜயேத்வஜ்ரமுத்ஸ்ருஷ்டம்
வர்ஜயேதந்தகஸ்சிரம் ।
த்வத்விதம் து ந ஸங்க்ருத்தோ
லோகநாத: ஸ ராகவ: ॥
varjayēdvajramutsṛṣṭam
varjayēdantakaṡciram ।
tvadvidhaṃ tu na saṅkṛddhō
lōkanāthaḥ sa rāghavaḥ ॥
One like you may be left alone by Vajra,
and even by lord Yama for a long time,
but not by Rāghava, the lord of the worlds,
whose wrath has been roused.
5.21.24 அ
5.21.24 ஆ
5.21.24 இ
5.21.24 ஈ ராமஸ்ய தநுஷ: ஸப்தம்
ஸ்ரோஷ்யஸி த்வம் மஹாஸ்வநம் ।
ஸதக்ரதுவிஸ்ருஷ்டஸ்ய
நிர்கோஷமஸநேரிவ ॥
rāmasya dhanuṣaḥ ṡabdam
ṡrōṣyasi tvaṃ mahāsvanam ।
ṡatakratuvisṛṣṭasya
nirghōṣamaṡanēriva ॥
You are bound to hear the
terrifying sound of the bowstring of Rāma,
that falls on the ears like that of the thunderbolt
launched by the performer of one hundred Yajñas.
5.21.25 அ
5.21.25 ஆ
5.21.25 இ
5.21.25 ஈ இஹ ஸீக்ரம் ஸுபர்வாணோ
ஜ்வலிதாஸ்யா இவோரகா: ।
இஷவோ நிபதிஷ்யந்தி
ராமலக்ஷ்மணலக்ஷணா: ॥
iha ṡīghraṃ suparvāṇō
jvalitāsyā ivōragāḥ ।
iṣavō nipatiṣyanti
rāmalakṣmaṇalakṣaṇāḥ ॥
Soon enough there will fall here
straight-jointed arrows bearing
the names of Rāma and Lakshmaṇa
like serpents with blazing mouths.
5.21.26 அ
5.21.26 ஆ
5.21.26 இ
5.21.26 ஈ ரக்ஷாம்ஸி பரிநிக்நந்த:
புர்யாமஸ்யாம் ஸமந்தத: ।
அஸம்பாதம் கரிஷ்யந்தி
பதந்த: கங்கவாஸஸ: ॥
rakṣāṃsi parinighnantaḥ
puryāmasyāṃ samantataḥ ।
asaṃpātaṃ kariṣyanti
patantaḥ kaṅkavāsasaḥ ॥
Speeded by the feathers of the Kaṅka,
those arrows will rain down
without an inch of space left between them,
slaughtering the Rākshasas and
covering every part of this city.
5.21.27 அ
5.21.27 ஆ
5.21.27 இ
5.21.27 ஈ ராக்ஷஸேந்த்ரமஹாஸர்பாந்
ஸ ராமகருடோ மஹாந் ।
உத்தரிஷ்யதி வேகேந
வைநதேய இவோரகாந் ॥
rākṣasēndramahāsarpān
sa rāmagaruḍō mahān ।
uddhariṣyati vēgēna
vainatēya ivōragān ॥
Just as the son of Vinata pounces on
the snakes and carries them off,
so will that great Garuḍa, Rāma grab
the mighty serpents, the Rākshasa Chiefs.
5.21.28 அ
5.21.28 ஆ
5.21.28 இ
5.21.28 ஈ அபநேஷ்யதி மாம் பர்தா
த்வத்த: ஸீக்ரமரிந்தம: ।
அஸுரேப்ய: ஸ்ரியம் தீப்தாம்
விஷ்ணுஸ்த்ரிபிரிவ க்ரமை: ॥
apanēṣyati māṃ bhartā
tvattaḥ ṡīghramarindamaḥ ।
asurēbhyaḥ ṡriyaṃ dīptām
viṣṇustribhiriva kramaiḥ ॥
My husband, the subduer of enemies,
will take me away from you
as easily as Vishnu did the glowing riches
of the Asuras, just with his three strides.
5.21.29 அ
5.21.29 ஆ
5.21.29 இ
5.21.29 ஈ ஜநஸ்தாநே ஹதஸ்தாநே
நிஹதே ரக்ஷஸாம் பலே ।
அஸக்தேந த்வயா ரக்ஷ:
க்ருதமேததஸாது வை ॥
janasthānē hatasthānē
nihatē rakṣasāṃ balē ।
aṡaktēna tvayā rakṣaḥ
kṛtamētadasādhu vai ॥
When the army of Rākshasas was destroyed,
when Janasthāna became a land of the dead,
O Rākshasa, you could not do anything
but resort to this despicable act.
5.21.30 அ
5.21.30 ஆ
5.21.30 இ
5.21.30 ஈ ஆஸ்ரமம் து தயோ: ஸூந்யம்
ப்ரவிஸ்ய நரஸிம்ஹயோ: ।
கோசரம் கதயோர்ப்ராத்ரோ:
அபநீதா த்வயாதம ॥
āṡramaṃ tu tayōḥ ṡūnyam
praviṡya narasiṃhayōḥ ।
gōcaraṃ gatayōrbhrātrōḥ
apanītā tvayādhama ॥
O base creature! You entered the Āṡrama
when it was free of the brothers,
the lions among men who happened to go out,
and carried me off.
5.21.31 அ
5.21.31 ஆ
5.21.31 இ
5.21.31 ஈ ந ஹி கந்தமுபாக்ராய
ராமலக்ஷ்மணயோஸ்த்வயா ।
ஸக்யம் ஸம்தர்ஸநே ஸ்தாதும்
ஸுநா ஸார்தூலயோரிவ ॥
na hi gandhamupāghrāya
rāmalakṣmaṇayōstvayā ।
ṡakyaṃ saṃdarṡanē sthātum
ṡunā ṡārdūlayōriva ॥
If only you had smelt the presence of
Rāma and Lakshmaṇa around,
you would not have dared
to risk being seen by them,
no more than a dog would risk
being seen by a pair of tigers.
5.21.32 அ
5.21.32 ஆ
5.21.32 இ
5.21.32 ஈ தஸ்ய தே விக்ரஹே தாப்யாம்
யுகக்ரஹணமஸ்திரம் ।
வ்ருத்ரஸ்யேவேந்த்ரபாஹுப்யாம்
பாஹோரேகஸ்ய விக்ரஹே ॥
tasya tē vigrahē tābhyām
yugagrahaṇamasthiram ।
vṛtrasyēvēndrabāhubhyām
bāhōrēkasya vigrahē ॥
You can hardly imagine
standing off against those two,
any more than the one-handed Vritra could ward off
that Indra who fought with both hands.
5.21.33 அ
5.21.33 ஆ
5.21.33 இ
5.21.33 ஈ க்ஷிப்ரம் தவ ஸ நாதோ மே
ராம: ஸௌமித்ரிணா ஸஹ ।
தோயமல்பமிவாதித்ய:
ப்ராணாநாதாஸ்யதே ஸரை: ॥
kṣipraṃ tava sa nāthō mē
rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha ।
tōyamalpamivādityaḥ
prāṇānādāsyatē ṡaraiḥ ॥
Very soon my Lord Rāma and Sowmitri
will snuff out your life with their arrows,
like the sun does, a shallow pool of water.
5.21.34 அ
5.21.34 ஆ
5.21.34 இ
5.21.34 ஈ கிரிம் குபேரஸ்ய கதோऽத வாலயம்
ஸபாம் கதோ வா வருணஸ்ய ராஜ்ஞ: ।
அஸம்ஸயம் தாஸரதேர்ந மோக்ஷ்யஸே
மஹாத்ரும: காலஹதோऽஸநேரிவ ॥
giriṃ kubērasya gatō'tha vālayaṃ
sabhāṃ gatō vā varuṇasya rājñaḥ ।
asaṃṡayaṃ dāṡarathērna mōkṣyasē
mahādrumaḥ kālahatō'ṡanēriva ॥
Your time has come to an end.
You cannot escape from Daṡaratha
even if you hide on the mountain of Kubēra
or in his house, or in the court of Varuṇa,
any more than a giant tree can, from lightning.
இத்யார்ஷே வால்மீகீயே
ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே ஆதிகாவ்யே
ஸுந்தரகாண்டே ஏகவிம்ஸஸ்ஸர்க:॥
ityārṣē vālmīkīyē
ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē
sundarakāṇḍē ēkaviṃṡassargaḥ॥
Thus concludes the twenty first Sarga
in Sundara Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Maharshi Vālmeeki.
You have completed reading 12440 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.
Meaning, notes and commentary by: Krishna Sharma.