Chapter [Sarga] 34

Introduction

Seetha asks Sarama to go secretly to Ravana and get to know what he is doing as well as report to her back about Ravana’s decision about the matter of releasing her or continuing to keep her captive. Sarama secretly hears the conversation of Ravana with his ministers and reports to Seetha that Ravana is not inclined to set her free. Sarama consoles Seetha, saying that Rama with his sharp arrows will kill Ravana and take her back to Ayodhya.


Verse Locator

Aw tam! jat sMtapam! ten vaKyen maeidtam!,
srma ’adyam! Aas mhI— dGxaimvaM-sa. 6£34£1

1. atha=then; taam= to that Seetha; jaataa samtaapam= who was overwhelmed with anguish;moditaam= was made delighted;tena vaakyena= by those words;saramaa= Sarama; samaahlaadayaamaasa= conferred delight;ambhasaa iva= like by rain;dagdhaam= the parched; mahiim= earth.

Seetha, who was overwhelmed with anguish on hearing Ravana’s words, was comforted and rendered happy by Sarama, as parched earth is solaced by rain.

Verse Locator

tts! tSya ihtm! sOyaz! ickI;RNtI soI vc>,
%vac kale kalJna iSmt pUvR Ai--ai;[I. 6£34£2

2. tataH= there after; chikiirshhanti= wishing to be; hitam(of further) service; tasyaaH= to that Seetha; sakhyaaH= her friend; sakhii= the affectionate Sarama; kaalajNaa= skilled in the knowledge of time; smita puurva bhaashhiNii= who smiled before talking; uvaacha= spoke; vachaH= (the following ) words; kaale= at the proper time.

Desiring to be of further service to her friend Seetha, the affectionate Sarama, skilled in the knowledge of time, smiling while talking, spoke the following words at that appropriate time.

Verse Locator

%Tsheym! Ahm! gTva Tvdœ vaKym! Aist $][e,
inve* k…zlm! rame àit½Úa invitRtum!. 6£34£3

3. asitekshhaNe= O, black eyed lady!; aham utsaheyam= I am able; nivedya= to carry a message; kushalam= of good will; tvadvaakyam= and your words; raame= to Rama; gatvaa= by going to him; pratichchhannaa= secretly; nivartitum= and to return.

“O, black eyed lady! I am capable of carrying a message of your words and good will to Rama and to return secretly.”

Verse Locator

n ih me ³mma[aya inralMbe ivhayis,
smwaeR gitm! ANvetum! pvnae géfae Aip va. 6£34£4

4. kramamaaNaayaaH= when I am journeying; vihaayasi= in the sky; niraalambe= self-supported; pavanaH= the god of wind; garuDo api vaa= or even Garuda the eagle; na samarthaH = is not capable; anvetum= to follow; me= my; gatim= movement

“When I am journeying in the sky self -supported, neither the god of wind nor Garuda the eagle can follow my movement.”

Verse Locator

@vm! äuva[am! tam! sIta srmam! punrœ AävIt!,
mxurm! ðú[ya vaca pUvR zaek Ai-pÚya. 6£34£5

5. taam saramaam= to Sarama; bruvaaNaam= who was speaking; evam= as aforesaid; siitaa= Seetha; vaachaa= her voice; puurvashokaabhi pannayaa= no longer charged with grief; abraviit= replied; idam= in these words; shlakshhNayaa= gently; madhuram= and sweetly (as follows):

To Sarama, who was speaking as aforesaid, Seetha her voice no longer charged with grief, gently and sweetly replied in the following words:

Verse Locator

smwaR ggnm! gNtum! Aip va Tvm! rsa tlm!,
Avg½aMy! AktRVym! ktRVym! te mdœ ANtre. 6£34£6

6. tvam= you; samarthaa= are able; gantum= to go; gaganam= to heaven; apicha= and ; rasaatalam= to the penultimate subterranean region; avagachchha= know (from me); adya= today; kartavyam= duty; kartavyam= that has got to be performed; te= by you; medantare= for my sake.

“You are capable of going to heaven or to the penultimate subterranean region. Know from me today the duty that has got to be performed by you for my sake.”

Verse Locator

mt! iàym! yid ktRVym! yid buiÏ> iSwra tv,
Jnatum! #½aim tm! gTva ikm! kraeit #it rav[>. 6£34£7

7. yadi= If; tava= your; buddhiH= intention; kartavyam= is to act; matpriyam= kindly towards me; tava= and your resolve; sthiraa yadi= is fixed; ichchhaami= I wish(you); gattvaa= to go; jN^aatum= and to know; kim= what; raavaNaH= Ravana; karotiiti= is doing.

“If your intention is to act kindly towards me and your resolve is firm , I wish you to go and know what Ravana is doing now.”

Verse Locator

s ih maya bl> ³ªrae rav[> zÇu rav[>,
mam! maehyit Êò AaTma pIt maÇa #v vaé[I. 6£34£8

8. saH= raavaNaH= that Ravana; maayaabalaH = equipped with strength in the shape of conjuring tricks; shatru raavaNaH= who makes his enemies cry; kruuraH= is cruel; dushhTaatmaa= and evil minded; mohayati= has bemused; maam= me; vaaruNiiva= as spirituous liquor(bemuses one); piita maatraa= the moment it is imbibed.

“That cruel and evil minded Ravana, equipped with strength in the shape of conjuring tricks, who makes his enemies cry has bemused me, as spirituous liquor bemuses one, the moment it is imbibed.”

Verse Locator

tjaRpyit mam! inTym! -TsaRpyit c As³œt!,
ra]sIi-> su"aerai-rœ ya mam! r]iNt inTyz>. 6£34£9

9. bhartsaapayati= he causes me to be threatened by words; nityam= all the time; sughoraabhiH=by the most frightful; raakshhasiibhiH=ogresses; yaaH= who; nityashaH= always; rakshhanti= surround me; tarjaapayati= insult me by their acts; asakR^it=repeatedly.

“He causes me to be threatened by words all the time by the most frightful ogresses, who always surround me and insult me by their act repeatedly.”

Verse Locator

%iÖ¶a ziNkta c AiSm n c SvSwm! mnae mm,
tdœ -yac! c Ahm! %iÖ¶aAzaek vinkam! gta>. 6£34£10

10. aham= I; asmi= am; udvignaa= depressed in mind; shaN^kitaacha= and distrustful; mama= My; manaH= mind; na svastham= is not in its natural state; gataa= being in; ashoka vanakaam= Ashoka grove; aham= I; udvignaa= am distressed ; tadbhayaat= because of his fear.

“I am depressed in mind and distrustful. My mind is not in its natural state. Staying in Ashoka grove, I am distressed because of his fear.”

Verse Locator

yid nam kwa tSy iniítm! va Aip ydœ -vet!,
invedyewa> svRm! tt! prae me Syadœ Anu¢h>.6£34£11

11. nivedayathaaH= if you inform; tat sarvam= all that; yat= which; bhavet= becomes; nishchitam vaapi= decision; (or) tasya= his; kathaa= talk; yadinaama= if ever; tat= it; syaat= will be; paraH =a great; anugrahaH= service; me= to me.

“Report to me, all that is decided by him during his talk going on with his ministers about the matter of releasing me or keeping me captive. It will be of great service to me.”

Verse Locator

saPyevm! äuvtIm! sItam! srma vLgu -ai;[I,
%vac vcnm! tSya> Sp&zNtI ba:p iv¬vm!. 6£34£12

12. saa= that; saramaapi= Sarama also; mR^idu bhaashiNii= who speaks kindly words; spR^ishantii= touching (wiping); tasyaaH= her; vadanam= face; bashhpaviklabam= which got moist with tears; uvaacha= replied; siitaam= to Seetha; bruuvatiim= who was speaking; evam= as aforesaid:

The soft spoken Sarama, wiping her face, which got moist with tears, replied as follows to Seetha who was speaking as aforesaid:

Verse Locator

@; te y*! Ai-àays! tSmadœ g½aim janik,
g&ý zÇaerœ Ai-àaym! %paì!Äam! c pZy mam!. 6£34£13

13. yadi= if; te= your; abhipraayah= opinion; eshhaH= is this; gachchhaami= I shall go; tasmaat= on that account; jaanaki= O, Seetha !; gR^ihya= having grasped; abhipraayam= the feeling; shatroH= of the enemies; upaavartaami= I shall return; maithili= O, Seetha!

“If your opinion is like this, I shall go on that account, O, Seetha! Having grasped the feeling of the enemies, I shall return O, Seetha!”

Verse Locator

@vm! %®va ttae gTva smIpm! tSy r]s>,
zuïav kiwtm! tSy rav[Sy smiÙ[>. 6£34£14

14. uktvaa= speaking; evam= thus; gatvaa= (she); went; tataH= thereafter; samiipam= to the vicinity; tasya rakshhasaH= of that demon; shushraava= and heard; kathitam= the conversation; tasya= of that; raavaNasya= Ravana; samantriNaH= who was with his ministers.

Speaking thus, Surama thereafter went to the vicinity of that demon and heard the conversation of Ravana who was with his ministers.

Verse Locator

sa ïuTva iníym! tSy iníyJna ÊraTmn>,
punrœ @v Agmt! i]àm! Azaek vinkam! tda. 6£34£15

15. saa= she; nishchayajNaa= who knew how to investigate; shrutvaa= having heard; duraatmanaH= the wicked; tasya= Ravana’s; nishchayam= resolve; kshhipram= soon; aagamat= came; punareva= again; shubhaam= to the beautiful; ashokavanikaam= Ashoka grove.

Sarama, who knew how to investigate could hear the wicked Ravana’s resolve and soon returned to Ashoka grove.

Verse Locator

sa àivòa puns! tÇ ddzR jnk AaTmjam!,
àtI]ma[am! Svam! @v æò pÒam! #v iïym!. 6£34£16

16. saa= she; pravishhTaa= who entered; tatra= there; dadarsha=saw; tataH= then; janakaatmajam= Seetha; shriyam iva= who looked like Lakshmi ,the goddess of prosperity; bhrashhTa padmaam= bereft of the lotus; pratiikshhamaaNaam= who was waiting; svaameva= for her alone.

Sarama, who entered the Ashoka grove, saw Seetha who looked like Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity (and the wife of Vishnu); bereft of the lotus and waiting for her only.

Verse Locator

tam! tu sIta pun> àaÝam! srmam! vLgu -ai;[Im!,
pir:vJy c suiõGxm! ddaE c Svym! Aasnm!. 6£34£17

17. siitaa= Seetha; susnigdham= affectionately; parishhvajya= embraced; priyabhaashhiNiim= the kindly speaking; saramaam= Sarama; punaH praaptaam= who returned ; dadou= and offered; svayam= personally; aasanam= a seat(to her).

Seetha affectionately embraced the kindly speaking Surama who returned there and offered personally a seat to her.

Verse Locator

#h AasIna suom! svRm! AaOyaih mm tÅvt>,
³ªrSy iníym! tSy rav[Sy ÊraTmn>. 6£34£18

18. aasiinaa= sitting; iha= here; sukham= comfortably; aakhyaahi= tell; mama= me; tattvataH= really; sarvam= about all; nishchayam= the design; tasya raavaNasya= of that Ravana; kruurasya= the cruel; duraatmanaH= and the wicked demon.

“Sitting here comfortably, tell me about the real design of that cruel and wicked Ravana”

Verse Locator

@vm! %­a tu srma sItya vepmanya,
kiwtm! svRm! Aac:t rav[Sy smiÙ[>. 6£34£19

19. saramaa= (while) Sarama;uktaa= was enquired; evam= thus; siitasya= by Seetha; vepamaanayaa= tremblingwith fear; aachashTa= narrated; sarvam= all; kathitam= the conversation; raavaNasya= of Ravana; samantriNaH= together with his ministers.

When Seetha trembling with fear enquired thus, Sarama narrated all the conversation of Ravana together with his ministers.

Verse Locator

jnNya ra]s #NÔae vE Tvn! mae] AwRm! b&hdœ vc>,
AivÏen c vEdeih miÙ v&Ïen baeixt>. 6£34£20

20. vaidehi= O,Seetha!; jananyaa= by the mother; raakshhasendraH= of Ravana; aviddhena= and by Aviddha; mantri vR^iddhena= his aged minister; bR^ihat= excellent; vachaH= words; uditaH= were spoken; tvanmokshhaartham= with the aim of your release.

“Excellent words were spoken by Kaikasi, the mother of Ravana as well as Aviddha the aged minister asking for your release, O Seetha!”

Verse Locator

dIytam! Ai-sT³œTy mnuj #NÔay mEiwlI,
indzRnm! te pyaRÝm! jn Swane ydœ AÑ‚tm!. 6£34£21

21. maithilii= (let) Seetha; diiyataam= be restored; abhisatkR^itya= honorably; manujendraaya= to Rama the lord of men; adbhutam= the wonderful thing; yat= which; (happened) janasthaane= in Janasthana; paryaaptam= is an enough; midarsham= eye opener; te= to you.

“Let Seetha, be restored honorably to Rama the Lord of men. That wonderful** thing happened in Janasthana is an enough eye- opener to you.”

** Rama exterminated fourteen thousand demons led by such great warriors as Khara and Dushana at Janastana.

Verse Locator

lN"nm! c smuÔSy dzRnm! c hnUmt>,
vxm! c r]sam! yuÏe k> k…yaRn! manu;ae -uiv. 6£34£22

22. kaH= what; maanushhaH= mortal; kuryaat=could accomplish; laN^ghanam= the crossing; samudrasya= of the ocean; hanuumataH= by Hanuman; vadhamcha= and the carnage; rakshhasaam= of the demons; yuddhe= in combat; bhuvi= on the earth?

“Which mortal would accomplish the crossing of the ocean, the discovery of Seetha by Hanuman, and the carnage of the demons in combat on this earth?”

Verse Locator

@vm! s miÙ v&ÏEí maÇa c b÷ -ai;t>,
n Tvam! %Tshte mae­…m! AtRü! AwR prae ywa. 6£34£23

23. bodhitaH= though admonished; bahu= in many ways; evam= thus; mantrivR^iddhaishcha= by the aged ministers; maatraacha= and by his mother; saH= he; na utsahate= does not want; moktum= to release; tvaam= you; arthamiva= as with riches; arthaparaH= by a miser.

“Though admonished in many ways by the aged ministers and his mother he is not inclined to set you free, any more than a miser would leave his hold on his riches.

Verse Locator

n %TshTy! Aè!tae mae­…m! yuÏe Tvam! #it mEiwil,
samaTySy n&zMsSy iníyae ý! @; vtRte. 6£34£24

24. maithili= O,Seetha!; notsahati= he does not want; moktum= to release; tvaam= you; amR^itaH= without dying; yuddho= in battle; iti= in this manner; eshhaH= this; vartate= is; nishchayaH= the resolve; nR^ishamsasya= of the cruel Ravana; saamaatyasya= along with his ministers.

"O, Seetha! He does not want to release you, without dying himself in a battle. This is the resolve of the cruel Ravana along with his ministers."

Verse Locator

tdœ @;a suiSwra buiÏm&RTyu lae-adœ %piSwta,
-yan! n z­s! Tvam! mae­…m! AinrSts! tu sMyuge. 6£34£25
ra]sanam! c sveR;am! AaTmnz! c vxen ih,

25. -"Thereafter, due to infatuation caused by his impending death, his aforesaid determination is very firm .He is not in a position to release you, not through sheer fear, but until he is actually defeated in battle through the carnage of all the demons and of himself."

-"Thereafter, due to infatuation caused by his impending death, his aforesaid determination is very firm .He is not in a position to release you, not through sheer fear, but until he is actually defeated in battle through the carnage of all the demons and of himself."

Verse Locator

inhTy rav[m! sMOye svRwa iniztE> zrE>. 6£34£26
àitne:yit rams! Tvam! AyaeXyam! Aist $][e,

26. asitekshhaNe= O, dark eyed Seetha!; nihatya= killing; raavaNam= Ravana; nishitaiH= by his sharp; sharaiH= arrows; samkhye= in combat; raamaH= Rama; tvaam prati neshhyati= will take you back; ayodhyaam= to Ayodhya; sarvathaa=by all means.

"O, dark eyed Seetha! Killing Ravana by his sharp arrows in combat, Rama will take you back to Ayodhya by all means."

Verse Locator

@tiSmÚ! ANtre zBdae -erI zNo smak…l>. 6£34£27
ïutae vE svR sENyanam! kMpyn! xr[I tlm!,

27. In the meantime was heard the sound of all the monkey troops blended with the sound of kettle drums, causing earth to shake. w.w.m-etasmin antare= in the mean time; shrutovai= was heard; shabdoH= the sound; sarva sainyaanaam= of all the monkey troops; bheriishabda samaakulaH= blended with the sound of kettle drums; dharaNiitalam= causing earth; kampayam= to shake.

In the meantime was heard the sound of all the monkey troops blended with the sound of kettle drums, causing earth to shake.

Verse Locator

ïuTva tu tm! vanr sENy zBdm!,
lNka gta ra]s raj æ!Tya>,
nò Aaejsae dENy prIt ceòa>,
ïeyae n pZyiNt Ü!pSy dae;E>. 6£34£28

28. Hearing that sound of that monkey troops, the servants of Ravana stationed in Lanka were lack- luster with their movements, overcome by depression. They did not see anything salutary in it, owing to the fault of their king. w.m-shrutvaa= hearing; tvam= that; vaanara sainya naadam= sound of the monkey troops; raakshhasa raajabhR^ityaaH= the servants of Ravana; laN^kaagataaH= employed in Lanka; hatoujasaH= were bereft of luster; dainyapariitacheshhTaaH= with their movements overcome by depression; na pashyanti= they did not see; shreyaH= anything salutary; doshhaat= owing to the fault; nR^ipashya= of their king.

Hearing that sound of that monkey troops, the servants of Ravana stationed in Lanka were lack- luster with their movements, overcome by depression. They did not see anything salutary in it, owing to the fault of their king.

 

#Tya;eR ïImÔamay[e AaidkaVye yuÏka{fe ctuiôMz> sgR

Thus completes 34th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.


Verse Locator for Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War : Chapter 34

 

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Sarga 34 in English Prose

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© September 2004, K. M. K. Murthy