Summary
Seetha's abduction takes place now. Ravana forcefully abducts Seetha in his air-chariot. She bewails and bemoans for Rama and Lakshmana and appeals to all nature to inform Rama about this abduction. Finally, she sees Jataayu, the eagle, and asks him to narrate her abduction to Rama.
Chapter [Sarga] 49
siitaayaa vacanam shrutvaa dashagriivah prataapavaan |
haste hastam samaahatya cakaara sumahat vapuh || 3-49-1
On hearing Seetha's words that valorous ten-headed Ravana loudly clapped in dissent for once and divulged his very mighty body. [3-49-1]
sa maithiliim punah vaakyam babhaase vaakya kovidah |
na unmattayaa shrutau manye mama viirya paraakramau || 3-49-2
That wordsmith Ravana again spoke these words to Maithili, "Perhaps you have not heard about my valor and vanquishes in all your madness for Rama. [3-49-2]
ud vaheyam bhujaabhyaam tu mediniim a.mbare sthitah |
aapibeyam samudram ca mrityum hanyaam rane sthitah || 3-49-3
"Standing on the sky I can lift up the earth with two of my arms, I can completely gulp down any ocean, standing in war I can even put the Death to death. [3-49-3]
arhkam tu.ndyaam sharaih tiiksnair vibhi.ndyaam hi mahiitalam |
kaama ruupinam unmatte pashya maam kaamadam patim || 3-49-4
"Indeed, I can split the Sun and splinter the earth with my splitting arrows, oh, mad woman, I can assume any form as I wish, and endow any wish you wish, such as I am, I must be your husband, behold me." So said Ravana when revealing his real nature. [3-49-4]
evam uktavatah tasya raavanasya shikhi prabhe |
kruddhasya hari paryante rakte netre babhuuvatuh || 3-49-5
While the infuriated Ravana is saying in that way his eyes which by themselves are torch lit in their shine have became further bloodshot and blackened at their edges. [3-49-5]
sadyah saumyam parityajya tiikshna ruupam sa raavanah |
svam ruupam kaala ruupa aabham bheje vaishravana anujah || 3-49-6
Immediately discarding the gentle form of a Brahman friar, that younger brother of Kubera, Ravana, assumed his own ferocious form which is similar to the form of Terminator. [3-49-6]
sanrakta nayanah shriimaan tapta kaa.ncana bhuusanah |
krodhena mahataa aavisto niila jiimuuta sannibhah || 3-49-7
dasha aasyo vi.mshati bhujo babhuuva ksanadaa carah |
That celebrated Ravana whose eyes are bloodshot as he is ensorcelled by desperate fury transmuted his form into a tend-faced, twenty-armed night-walker wearing golden ornaments of purified gold and appearing as a black tempestuous cloud. [3-49-7, 8a]
sa parivraajaka cchadma mahaakaayo vihaaya tat || 3-49-8
pratipede svakam ruupam raavano raaksasa adhipah |
rakta a.mbara dharah tasthau strii ratnam preksya maithiliim || 3-49-9
On discarding that guise of a Brahman friar that sovereign of demons Ravana educed his own physique and then that mighty bodied one attired in reddish clothing stood before Maithili observing that gem of a lady. [3-49-8b, 9]
sa taam asita kesha antaam bhaaskarasya prabhaam iva |
vasana aabharana upetaam maithiliim raavano abraviit || 3-49-10
She whose tresses are glossily blackish until their ends, and who has on her glittering jewelry and silken-ochry-sari, whereby who is unperceivable like sun's glaring shine, to such Maithili Ravana spoke. [3-49-10]
trisu lokesu vikhyaatam yadi bhartaaram icchasi |
maam aashraya varaarohe tava aham sadrishah patih || 3-49-11
"If you wish to have a husband of well-renown in three worlds you seek shelter in me, oh, high-hipped lady, I alone will match up to you as husband. [3-49-11]
maam bhajasva ciraaya tvam aham shlaaghyah patih tava |
na eva ca aham kvacit bhadre karisye tava vipriyam || 3-49-12
tyajyataam maanuso bhaavo mayi bhaavah praniiyataam |
"Ultimately you have a much-lauded husband in me, as such you oblige me, and I will not cause any displeasure to you at any point of time. Let your heart refrain from that humanly Rama and you start bringing round your heart towards me. [3-49-12, 13a]
raajyaat cyutam asiddha artham raamam parimita aayusam || 3-49-13
kaih gunaih anuraktaa asi muudhe pandita maanini |
yah striyaa vacanaat raajyam vihaaya sasuhrit janam || 3-49-14
asmin vyaala anucarite vane vasati durhmatih |
"Oh, half witted lady, you who deem yourself a highly intellectual lady, listen, that mindless Rama who just by a word of a woman forebode kingdom along with all of his amiable people, and lives in this forest where the predators are on the prowl, thus he who is spurned off from kingdom, un-gainful are his purposes, and who is even a short-lived human, I wonder by what merits you are impassioned for such a Rama?" Thus Ravana spoke to Seetha. [3-49-13b, 14, 15a]
iti uktvaa maithiliim vaakyam priya arhaam priya vaadiniim || 3-49-15
abhigamya sudusta aatmaa raakshasah kaama mohitah |
jagraaha raavanah siitaam budhah khe rohiniim iva || 3-49-16
On saying that sentence to Maithili, who by herself is a nice talker and who is a proper one for addressing with nice words, that verily evil-minded demon Ravana maddened by lust drew nigh of Seetha and grabbed her, as Budha, the Jupiter grabs the Star Rohini in firmament. [3-49-15b, 16]
vaamena siitaam padmaaksiim muurdhajesu karena sah |
uurvoh tu daksinena eva parijagraaha paaninaa || 3-49-17
He that Ravana grabbed the lotus-eyed Seetha on lifting her up with his left hand at her plait of hair at nape, and with his right hand at her thighs. [3-49-17]
tam dristvaa giri shringa aabham tiiksna da.mstram mahaa bhujam |
praadravan mrityu sa.nkaasham bhaya aartaa vana devataah || 3-49-18
On seeing him who grabbed Seetha, who has incisive fangs, mightily armed and who is shining forth like a mountain crest and similar to Death, the forest deities quickly fled away terrorized by his terrorism. [3-49-18]
sa ca maayaamayo divyah khara yuktah khara svanah |
pratyadrishyata hemaa.ngo raavanasya mahaarathah || 3-49-19
Then the miracle-air-chariot of Ravana which is miraculously designed to appear and disappear at the wish of its master, yoked with miraculous mules, and built with its golden wheels and parts, appeared afore Ravana braying noisily. [3-49-19]
tatah taam parusaih vaakyaih abhitarjya mahaasvanah |
a.nkena aadaaya vaidehiim ratham aaropayat tadaa || 3-49-20
Then he whose voice is strident that Ravana lifted her up by her waist and got Vaidehi up on the air-chariot intimidating her with bitter words. [3-49-20]
saa grihiitaa aticukrosha raavanena yashasvinii |
raamaa iti siitaa duhkha aartaa raamam duuram gatam vane || 3-49-21
Agonized with anguish when gone into the captivity of Ravana, she that glorious Seetha wailed loudly for Rama saying 'oh, Rama,' which Rama has gone deep into the forest by then. [3-49-21]
taam akaamaam sa kaama aartah pannaga indra vadhuum iva |
vivestamaanaam aadaaya utpapaata atha raavanah || 3-49-22
Ravana who is infatuated with lust picked her up, which lady is disinclined for any kind of sensuality and who is verily writhing like the wife of King Cobra, and then he surged skyward and flew off with her in his air-chariot. [3-49-22]
tatah saa raaksasendrena hriyamaanaa vihaayasaa |
bhrisham cukrosha mattaa iva bhraa.nta cittaa yathaa aaturaa || 3-49-23
While that lord of demons is abducting her in the skyway, Seetha became frenzied with bewildered faculties and then bawled stridently like a hysterical person. [3-49-23]
haa laksmana mahaabaaho guru citta prasaadaka |
hriyamaanaam na jaaniise raksasaa kaama ruupinaa || 3-49-24
"Haa, greatly dexterous Lakshmana... oh, rejoicer of your mentor... you are incognizant of me who am being abducted by this demon who is a dissembler. [3-49-24]
jiivitam sukham arthaam ca dharma hetoh parityajan |
hriyamaanaam adharmena maam raaghava na pashyasi || 3-49-25
"Oh, Raghava, you have relinquished your high-life, happiness, and riches for the sake of righteousness, and though you avowed to protect your observant, you are unobservant of me who am being abducted by the unrighteousness itself. [3-49-5]
nanu naama aviniitaanaam vinetaa asi para.ntapa |
katham evam vidham paapam na tvam shaassi hi raavanam || 3-49-26
"Oh, enemy-inflamer Rama, I reckon that you are an absolute controller of uncontrollable beings, I wonder why you are not controlling this kind of sinner, Ravana, indeed?" This is how Seetha started her cry in wilderness. [3-49-26]
nanu sadyo aviniitasya drishyate karmanah phalam |
kaalo api a.ngii bhavati atra sasyaanaam iva paktaye || 3-49-27
"Indeed, the result for an evil act will not be apparent instantaneously. Even the time becomes a factor in the matter of cause and effect, as with the crops becoming cook able after certain time lag." Thus, she is addressing Ravana now. [3-49-27]
tvam karma kritavaan etat kaala upahata cetanah |
jiivita a.ntakaram ghoram raamaat vyasanam aap.hnuhi || 3-49-28
"The Time has battered your brains and as an infringer you have undertaken this particular exploit, whereby you will get a devastating and life-ending tribulation from Rama." Thus, she upbraided Ravana. [3-49-28]
hanta idaaniim sakaamaa tu kaikeyii baandhavaih saha |
hriyeyam dharma kaamasya dharma patnii yashasvinah || 3-49-29
"An honest wife of a glorious one who aspires nothing but honesty, such a wife of Rama as I am, I am being abducted, thus the aspiration of Kaikeyi and her kinfolk has now come true. Oh, god!" Thus, she soliloquized [talk to oneself]. [3-49-29]
aamantraye janasthaanam karnikaaraan ca puspitaan |
ksipram raamaaya sha.msadhvam siitaam harati raavanah || 3-49-30
"I call the attention of the flowered Karnikara trees of Janasthaana, you inform Rama that Ravana is thieving Seetha." Thus, she is addressing the woods and others on the ground from air-chariot. [3-49-30]
hamsa saarasa sa.nghustaam vande godaavariim nadiim |
ksipram raamaaya shamsa tvam siitaam harati raavanah || 3-49-31
"I pray you who are with the bustle of swans and saarasa water birds, oh, River Godavari; you promptly tell Rama that Ravana is thieving Seetha. [3-49-31]
daivataani ca yaanti asmin vane vividha paadape |
namaskaromi aham tebhyo bhartuh sha.msata maam hritaam || 3-49-32
"I also venerate you, the sylvan deities that travel in this forest with diverse trees or, those that abide on the treetops; you may please inform my husband that I am being stolen. [3-49-32]
yaani kaanicit api atra sattvaani nivasanti uta |
sar.hvaani sharanam yaami mriga paksi ganaan api || 3-49-33
"Or, over there, some few beings that are living over there on the ground below, I seek shelter of all the flocks of birds and hoards of animals, and I pray you to convey this news. [3-49-33]
hriyamaanaam priyaam bhartuh praanebhyo api gariiyasiim |
vivasha apahritaa siitaa raavanena iti sha.msata || 3-49-34
"Inform my husband about his dear and loftier wife than his lives, saying that, 'helpless Seetha is stolen by Ravana.' [3-49-34]
viditvaa maam mahaabaahuh amutra api mahaabalah |
aanesyati paraakramya vaivasvata hritaam api || 3-49-35
"If that ambidextrous Rama comes to know about me, even if I am taken to heavens, or, even if I am impounded by Death, that great-mighty Rama brings me back, on aggressing against all of the gods in heaven, or, against Yama, the Death God." Thus, she appealed to one and all, but in vain. [3-49-35]
saa tadaa karunaa vaaco vilapa.ntii suduhkhitaa |
vanaspati gatam gridhram dadarsha aayata locanaa || 3-49-36
She that wide-eyed Seetha who is highly anguished and bewailing with pitiable words then with a wide-eyed expectancy saw the eagle Jataayu perching on a tree. [3-49-36]
saa tam ud viikshya sushronii raavanasya vasham gataa |
samaakra.ndat bhayaparaa duhkha upahatayaa giraa || 3-49-37
She that well-waist lady who has gone into the captivity of Ravana craned and stared at the eagle, and worsted by fear she shrieked squeakily with a stuttering voice that is walloped with anguish. [3-49-37]
jataayo pashya mama aarya hriyamaanam anaatha vat |
anena raakshasedrena karunam paapa karmanaa || 3-49-38
"Oh, fatherly Jataayu, see me, like an orphanized one I am pitiably abducted by this lord of demons with sinister deeds. [3-49-38]
na esa vaarayitum shakyah tvayaa kruuro nishaacara |
sattvavaan jitakaashii ca sa aayudhah caiva durmatih || 3-49-39
"It is impossible for you to forestall this merciless night-walker, for he is formidable, shining forth with cunning conquests, also thus this wicked minded one is with weaponry. [3-49-39]
raamaaya tu yathaa tattvam jataayo haranam mama |
laksmanaaya ca tat sarvam aakhyaatavyam ashesatah || 3-49-40
"Oh, Jataayu, everything about my abduction shall be narrated to Rama, or to Lakshmana, as it has happened in its entirety." Thus Seetha supplicated Jataayu. [3-49-40]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande eko na pa.ncaashah sargah
Thus, this is the 49th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate