Bullying by the Rakshasis (Chapter 24)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki”

Twenty fourth 24th Chapter

Bullying by the Rakshasis

(This chapter describes the various ways, the Rakshasis tried to bully Sita)

After this the ugly looking hard hearted Rakshasa ladies came near Sita and told the following harsh and undesirable words: 1

Hey Sita, why are you not consenting to the life in Harem which is liked by all beings and which has very special beds? 2

You think a human lady should only be the wife of another human being but that is not going to happen to you and so drag away your mind from Sri Rama. 3

Accept being the wife of Ravana who enjoys the greatest pleasures in all the three worlds and engage in pleasant love play. 4

It is strange for you who is a lucky human being without any defects, wanting to rejoin Rama who has been driven away from his kingdom, who is dejected and who is suffering because of sorrow. 5

Sita who had eyes similar to the lotus , after hearing the words of Rakshasis . with tear- filled eyes, told the following words: 6

All the words told by you jointly are against the percepts of the world and are sinful and is not acceptable to me. 7

A human lady should not become the wife of a Rakshasa, Even if all of you are going to eat me away, I am not going to listen to your words. 8

Though my husband has been driven away from his kingdom and though he is in dire straits, he is always one who is respected by me and like the Lady Suvarchala is always with the Sun God, I will always be with him. 9

( This simile is strange , because Suvarchala being hurt by Sun’s harsh rays, left her shadow instead of her to be his wife.)

I would never part from my husband Rama who is the prince of Ikshuvaku clan, like the very lucky Lady Sachi devi from Indra, like Arundathi from Vasishta, Rohini from the moon god, Lopamudhra from Sage Agasthya, Sukanya from Sage Chyavana, Savithri from Prince Sathyavan, Madayanthi from Soudasa, Kesini from Sagara and the great Bhima princess Damayanthi from the great King Nala. 10-12

(here she lists the various great virtuous ladies of her time. Since each couple represents a famous well known story, they are not related here. She also indicates that like Damayanthi and Madayanthi, she will also rejoin her husband.)

Those Rakshasis appointed by Ravana, hearing the words of Sita, became livid with anger and uttered the following harsh words and bullied her. 13

Hanuman the monkey who was silently hiding atop the Simshuba tree carefully watched Sita and those Rakshasis. 14

Those angry women surrounded her who was trembling by fear on all the four sides licked and bit their dry and elongated lips. 15

They who were very angry took the white axe in their hands and told, This lady does not deserve to beÂ the wife of Ravana who is the king of Rakshasas. 16

(Till this time, the Rakshasis were trying to convince Sita logically.)

Terrorized by the hateful Rakshasis, she who had a pleasant face wiped away her tears and reached the Simshuba tree. 17

Surrounded by the Rakshasis that broad eyed Sita drowned in her sorrow reached the Simshuba tree and stood there. 18

Those Rakshasis surrounded on all sides Sita who was thin, who had a faded face and who wore dirty cloths and started bullying her. 19

Then a Rakshasi called Vinatha who was having all signs of being angry, who was having a hateful look, who was having a pot belly and who was ugly to look at addressing Sita told: 20

Madam Sita, you have till now shown that you love your husband sufficiently and doing anything more than this necessary leads to sorrow. 21

Hey princess of Mithila, I am very much satisfied by your proper observation of the duty of human beings and let all good come to you . Be pleased to obey me who is telling you what is good for you. 22-23

You please accept Ravana who is the king of all Rakshasas, who is handsome, who is valorous, who is like Indra, the king of devas, who is powerful, who has the sense of sacrifice and who tells sweet things to every one as your husband. 24

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