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|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 25

"...रुरोद जनकात्मजा ।" (25.1)
" ... hearing those words Janaka's daughter cried."
That is how the Sarga starts.

In this Sarga Sita goes through a churning, wondering why she is in this sorrowful condition. Knowing Sita is none other than Lakshmi , consort of Vishnu, there will be others too wondering why she is in that sorrowful condition.

For them the Tilaka Tika in its commentary has the following notes.- "अयं सर्वः सीताप्रलापो गृहीत मनुष्य शरीरतया नटवदनुकरणरूप इति बोद्धव्यं"॥

"Having taken the form of a human being, all these words of Sita are to be understood as words of an actor, who has taken on the form of a human being." Again Rama and Sita go through life as any common man would do. There-in lies the richness of Ramayana.

Continuing the text of Valmiki we now go through all Slokas with meanings and summary

॥Sloka 25.01॥

तथा तासां वदन्तीनां परुषं दारुणं बहु।
राक्षसीनां असौम्यानां रुरोद जनकात्मजा॥25.01||

स॥ अथ असौम्यानां राक्षसीनां बहु दारुणं परुषं वदन्तीनां ( श्रुत्वा) जनकात्मजा रुरोद॥

॥Sloka meanings||

अथ असौम्यानां राक्षसीनां -
of the unpleasant Rakshasis
बहु दारुणं परुषं वदन्तीनां ( श्रुत्वा) - hearing the many harsh words of
बहु दारुणमैन परुषवाक्यमुलनु माट्लाडुतुन्न
जनकात्मजा रुरोद - the daughter of Janaka wept

||Sloka summary||

"Then hearing the many harsh words of the unpleasant Rakshasis the daughter of Janaka wept." ||25.01||

||Sloka 25.02॥

एवमुक्त्वातु वैदेही राक्षसीभिर्मनस्विनी
उवाच परमत्रस्ता भाष्पगद्गदया गिरा॥25.02||

स॥ एवं उक्त्वा तु राक्षसीभिः मनस्विनी वैदेही परम त्रस्ता भाष्पगद्गदया गिरा उवाच॥

॥Sloka meanings||

एवं उक्त्वा तु राक्षसीभिः -
having been told thus by the Rakshasa women
मनस्विनी वैदेही परम त्रस्ता -
very much afraid Vaidehi
भाष्पगद्गदया गिरा उवाच -
with a voice choking with tears spoke

||Sloka summary||

"Having been told thus by the Rakshasa women, very much afraid Vaidehi with a voice choking with tears spoke thus." ||25.02||

||Sloka 25.03॥

न मानुषी राक्षसस्य भार्याभवितुमर्हति।
कामं खादत मां सर्वा न करिष्यामि वो वचः॥25.03||

स॥ मानुषी राक्षसस्य भार्या भवितुं न अर्हति मां सर्वा कामं खादत वो वचः न करिष्यामि ॥

॥Sloka meanings||

मानुषी - a human being
राक्षसस्य भार्या - wife of a Rakshasa
भवितुं न अर्हति - not possible
मां सर्वा कामं खादत - you can all freely eat me
वो वचः न करिष्यामि - I will not do what you say'

||Sloka summary||

"A human being cannot be the wife of a Rakshasa. You can all freely eat me. I will not do what you say".||25.03||

||Sloka 25.04॥

सा राक्षसीमध्यगता सीता सुरसुतोपमा।
न शर्म लेभे दुःखार्ता रावणेन तर्जिता॥25.04||

स॥ राक्षसी मध्यगता रावणेन तर्जिता सुरसुतोपमा सा सीता दुःखार्ता शर्म न लेभे ॥

॥Sloka meanings||

राक्षसी मध्यगता -
surrounded by the Rakshasa women
रावणेन तर्जिता -
threatened by Ravana
सुरसुतोपमा सा सीता -
Sita, who is like the daughter of Gods
दुःखार्ता शर्म न लेभे -
could not get solace

||Sloka summary||

"Surrounded by the Rakshasa women, threatened by Ravana, Sita, who is like the daughter of Gods could not get solace." ||25.04||

||Sloka 25.05॥

वेपतेस्माधिकं सीता विशन्तीवाङ्ग मात्मनः।
वने यूधपरिभ्रष्टा मृगी कोकै रिवार्दिता ||25.05||

स॥ वने यूधपरिभ्रष्टा कोकैः आर्दिता मृगी इव आत्मना अङ्गं विशन्तिः अधिकं वेपते स्म॥

॥Sloka meanings||

वने यूधपरिभ्रष्टा -
separated from its herd
कोकैः आर्दिता मृगी इव -
like a deer chased by the wolves
आत्मना अङ्गं विशन्तिः -
withdrew her limbs into herself
अधिकं वेपते स्म -
trembling excessively

||Sloka summary||

"Like the deer separated from its herd and chased by the wolves in the forest, Sita trembling excessively withdrew her limbs into herself." ||25.05||

||Sloka 25.06॥

सा त्वशोकस्य विपुलां शाखा मालम्ब्य पुष्पिताम्।
चिन्तयामास शोकेन भर्तारं भग्नमानसा॥25.06||

स॥ शोकेन भग्नमानस्य सा अशोकस्य पुष्पितां विपुलं शाखाम् आलम्ब्य भर्तारं चिन्तयामास॥

॥Sloka meanings||

शोकेन भग्नमानस्य -
with a broken heart and in sorrow
सा अशोकस्य पुष्पितां -
of the flowering Ashoka tree's
विपुलं शाखाम् - large branch
आलम्ब्य - holding
भर्तारं चिन्तयामास -
started thinking about her husband

||Sloka summary||

"With a broken heart and in sorrow, she held on to the flowering branches of that Ashoka tree and started thinking about her husband." ||25.06||

||Sloka 25.07॥

सा स्नापयन्ती विपुलौ स्तनौ नेत्रजलस्रवैः।
चिन्तयन्ती न शोकस्य तदान्त मधिगच्चति॥25.07||

स॥ तदा सा नेत्रजलस्रवैः विपुलौ स्तनौ स्नापयंती चिंतयंती सोकस्य अंतं न अधिगच्छति ॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तदा सा नेत्रजलस्रवैः -
with that flow of tears
विपुलौ स्तनौ स्नापयंती -
bathing her large breasts
चिंतयंती - brooding
शोकस्य अंतं न अधिगच्छति -
could not reach the other end of sorrow.

||Sloka summary||

"Then brooding and with the flow of tears bathing her breasts she could not reach the other end of the sea of sorrow." ||25.07||

||Sloka 25.08॥

सा वेपमाना पतिता प्रवाते कदळी यथा।
राक्षसीनां भयत्रस्ता विवर्णवदनाऽभवत्॥25.08||

स॥ सा प्रवाते पतिता वेपमाना कदळी यथा राक्षसीनां भयत्रस्ता विवर्णवदना अभवत् ॥

॥Sloka meanings||

सा प्रवाते पतिता कदळी यथा -
trembling like a fallen banana tree in stormy winds
राक्षसीनां भयत्रस्ता -
frightened of the Rakshasa women
वेपमाना विवर्णवदना अभवत् -
crying she looked very pale

||Sloka summary||

"Trembling like a fallen banana tree in stormy winds , frightened of the Rakshasa women she looked very pale." ||25.08||

||Sloka 25.09॥

तस्या स्सा दीर्घविपुला वेपन्त्या सीतया तदा।
ददृशे कम्पिनी वेणी व्याळीव परिसर्पती॥25.09||

स॥ वेपंत्याः तस्याः दीर्घविपुला कंपिनी सा सीतया वेणी व्यालीव परिसर्पती ददृशे॥

॥Sloka meanings||

वेपंत्याः सीतया -
by Sita who was trembling
तस्याः दीर्घविपुला कंपिनी वेणी -
her long shaking braid
सा व्यालीव परिसर्पती ददृशे -
it was like a moving serpent

||Sloka summary||

The long luxuriant moving braid of Sita who was trembling looked like a moving serpent.||25.09||

||Sloka 25.10॥

सा निश्श्वसन्ती दुःखार्ता शोकोपहतचेतना।
अर्ता व्यसृज दश्रूणी मैथिली विललाप ह॥25.10||

स॥ दुःखार्ता शोकोपहतचेतना आर्ता सा मैथिली निःश्वसंती अश्रूणि व्यसृज विललाप ह ॥

॥Sloka meanings||

दुःखार्ता शोकोपहतचेतना -
distressed and consciousness drowned in sorrow
आर्ता सा मैथिली -
afflicted Maithili
निःश्वसंती -
breathing heavily
अश्रूणि व्यसृज विललाप ह -
cried shedding tears

||Sloka summary||

"The distressed and afflicted Mythili with her consciousness drowned in sorrow, breathing heavily cried shedding tears." ||25.10||

||Sloka 25.11॥

हारामेति च दुःखार्ता हा पुनर्लक्ष्मणेति च।
हा श्वश्रु मम कौसल्ये हा सुमित्रेति भामिनी॥25.11||

स॥ दुःखार्ता हा राम इति पुनः हा लक्ष्मण इति हा ममश्वश्रु कौसल्ये हासुमित्रे इति ( विललाप ह)||

||Sloka meanings||

दुःखार्ता हा राम इति -
afflicted and saying , 'O Rama'
पुनः हा लक्ष्मण इति -
again saying, 'O Lakshmana'
हा ममश्वश्रु कौसल्ये -
O my mother-in-law Kausalya
हा सुमित्रे इति ( विललाप ह) -
'O Sumitra' so saying( she cried)

||Sloka summary||

"The afflicted lady cried saying 'Oh Rama, Oh Lakshmana, my mother in law O Kausalya, Oh Sumitra" .||25.11||

||Sloka 25.12॥

लोक प्रवादः सत्योऽयं पण्डितैस्समुदाहृतः।
अकाले दुर्लभो मृत्यु स्स्त्रिया वा पुरुषस्यवा॥25.12||

||Sloka 25.13॥
यत्राह मेवं क्रूराभी राक्षसीभि रिहार्दिता।
जीवामि हीना रामेण मुहूर्तमपि दुःखिता॥25.13||

स॥ यत्र अहं एवं क्रूराभिः राक्षसीभिः आर्दिता इह रामेण हीना दुःखार्ता यदा मुहूर्तं अपि जीवामि (तदा) स्त्रियावा पुरुषस्य वा अकाले मृत्युः दुर्लभः पंडितः समुदाहृतः (इति) अयं लोकप्रवादः सत्यः॥

॥Sloka meanings||

यत्र अहं - as I am
एवं क्रूराभिः राक्षसीभिः आर्दिता -
tormented by the cruel Rakshasis
इह रामेण हीना दुःखार्ता -
drowning in sorrow separated from Rama
यदा मुहूर्तं अपि जीवामि -
if I am living even for a moment
स्त्रियावा पुरुषस्य वा -
for a man or woman
अकाले मृत्युः दुर्लभः -
untimely death is difficult
पंडितः समुदाहृतः (इति) -
quoted by learned
अयं लोकप्रवादः सत्यः -
this saying is true

||Sloka summary||

"As I am tormented by the cruel Rakshasis here , drowning in sorrow and separated from Rama, if I am living even for a moment, means that the often quoted saying of the learned that for a man or woman untimely death is difficult is true". ||25.12,13||

||Sloka 25.14॥

एषऽल्पपुण्या कृपणा विनशिष्यां अनाथवत्।
समुद्रमध्ये नौः पूर्णा वायुवेगै रिवाहता॥25.14||

स॥ अल्पपुण्यया कृपणा एषा अनाथवत् समुद्रमध्ये वायुवेगैः आहता पूर्णा नौः इव विनशिष्यामि॥

॥Sloka meanings||

एषा अल्पपुण्यया कृपणा -
this lowly wretched woman
अनाथवत् - like an orphan
समुद्रमध्ये -
in the middle of the ocean
वायुवेगैः आहता पूर्णा नौः इव -
like full boat hit by stormy winds
विनशिष्यामि - destroyed

||Sloka summary||

"This lowly wretched woman who is like an orphan that I am , I will be destroyed like the full boat hit by stormy winds in the middle of the sea." ||25.14||

||Sloka 25.15॥

भर्तारं तं अपश्यन्ती राक्षसीवश मागता।
सीदामि खलु शोकेन कूलं तोयहतं यथा॥25.15||

स॥ भर्तारं तं अपश्यंती राक्षसी वशं आगता तोयहतं तीरं यथा शोकेन सीदामि खलु॥

॥Sloka meanings||

भर्तारं तं अपश्यंती -
unable to see that husband
राक्षसी वशं आगता -
being in the control of the Rakshasis
तोयहतं तीरं यथा -
like the bank of a river hit by the water currents
शोकेन सीदामि खलु -
collapsing in sorrow

||Sloka summary||

"Unable to see that husband, being in the control of the Rakshasis, I am collapsing in sorrow like the bank of a river hit by the water currents." ||25.15||

||Sloka 25.16॥

तं पद्मदळपत्राक्षं सिंहविक्रान्त गामिनम्।
धन्याः पश्यन्ति मे नाथं कृतज्ञं प्रियवादिनम्॥25.16||

स॥ पद्मदलपत्राक्षं सिंह विक्रांत गामिनं कृतज्ञं प्रियवादिनं मे नाथं पस्यंति (ते) धन्याः॥

॥Sloka meanings||

पद्मदलपत्राक्षं -
one who has eyes like that of a lotus petal
सिंह विक्रांत गामिनं -
one who walks with the majesty of a lion
कृतज्ञं प्रियवादिनं -
who is ever grateful, who is sweet in his talk.
मे नाथं पश्यन्ति (ते) धन्याः -
those who can see my husband are blessed

||Sloka summary||

"Those who can see that husband of mine who has eyes like that of a lotus petal, who walks with the majesty of a lion, who is ever grateful, they are indeed blessed." ||25.16||

||Sloka 25.17॥

सर्वथा तेन हीनया रामेण विदितात्मना।
तीक्ष्णं विषमिवाऽऽस्वाद्य दुर्लभं मम जीवनम्॥25.17||

स॥ विदितात्मना तेन रामेण हीनायाः मम तीक्ष्णं विषं आस्वाद्येव जीवितं सर्वथा दुर्लभम्॥

॥Sloka meanings||

विदितात्मना तेन -
by him who has realized self
रामेण हीनायाः मम -
for me separated from Rama
जीवितं सर्वथा दुर्लभम् -
life is impossible in all ways
तीक्ष्णं विषं आस्वाद्येव -
like that one who drank venom

||Sloka summary||

"Separated from Rama the one who has realized self, my life is impossible like that of one who drank venom." ||25.17||

||Sloka 25.18॥

कीदृशं तु महापापं पुरा जन्मान्तरे कृतम्।
येनेदं प्राप्यते दुःखं मया घोरं सुदारुणम्॥25.18||

स॥ येन मया घोरं सुदारुणं इदं दुःखं प्राप्यते कीदृशं महापापं (मया) पुरा जन्मांतरे कृतं॥

॥Sloka meanings||

येन मया -
by which I am subject to
इदं घोरं सुदारुणं -
this terrible cruel
दुःखं प्राप्यते -
obtain this sorrow
कीदृशं महापापं (मया) -
what kind of great sin (I might have)
पुरा जन्मांतरे कृतं -
committed in my previous birth ?

||Sloka summary||

"That I am subject to this terrible cruel sorrow, means what kind of great sin I might have committed in my previous birth ? ||25.18||

||Sloka 25.19॥

जीवितं त्यक्तु मिच्छामि शोकेन महता वृता।
राक्षसीभिश्च रक्ष्यन्त्या रामो नासाद्यते मया॥25.19||

स॥ महता शोकेन आवृता जीवितं त्यक्तुं इच्छामि । रामः मया आसाद्यते न (यदा अहं) राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता॥

॥Sloka meanings||

महता शोकेन आवृता -
filled with this great sorrow
जीवितं त्यक्तुं इच्छामि -
I want to give up my life
रामः मया आसाद्यते न -
Rama cannot get me
(यदा अहं) राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता-
(while I am) protected by these Rakshasis

||Sloka summary||

"Filled with this great sorrow I want to give up my life. Rama cannot get me , while I am protected by these Rakshasis". ||25.19||

||Sloka 25.20॥

धि गस्तु खलु मानुष्यं धिगस्तु परवश्यताम्।
न शक्यं यत्परित्यक्तु मात्मच्छन्देन जीवितम्॥25.20||

स॥ मानुष्यं धिक् अस्तु । परवश्यतां धिक् अस्तु । यत् आत्मछंदेन जिवितं परित्यक्तुं (अपि) न शक्यं खलु ॥

॥Sloka meanings||

मानुष्यं धिक् अस्तु -
fie upon human life
परवश्यतां धिक् अस्तु -
fie upon dependence
यत् आत्मछंदेन जिवितं परित्यक्तुं (अपि) -
though I wish to give up life
न शक्यं खलु -
I am unable to

||Sloka summary||

" Fie upon human life. Fie upon dependence. Though I wish to give up life I am unable to'. ||25.20||

Thinking that she alone is responsible for her pitiable state, Sita says " What kind of great sin I might have committed in my previous birth ? Filled with this great sorrow I want to give up my life. Rama cannot get me , while I am protected by these Rakshasis.
Fie upon human life. Fie upon dependence. Though I wish to give up life I am unable to".

When the Tamo and Rajo Gunas of Prakruti are in ascendancy , he one in distress blames everybody else for his misfortune. Only when they are in control and in the ascendency of Sattva one may look inwards to see why of the distress. In Sita's distress that is what we learn .

Thus we see Sita was lamenting about her fate in the Ashoka grove in Sarga twenty-five.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये वाल्मीकीये
चतुर्विंशत् सहस्रिकायां संहितायाम्
श्रीमत्सुंदरकांडे पंचविंशस्सर्गः॥

Thus ends Sarga twenty-five of Sundarakanda in Ramayana , the first ever poem composed in Sanskrit by the first poet sage Valmiki.

॥om tat sat||
||ओम् तत् सत्॥