Sita's decision to commit suicide (Chapter 26)

Contents

1 Read Next:
2 Seeing of good omens (Chapter 29)
3 Crashing of hopes of Hanuman (Chapter 13)
4 Searching inside the Asoka forest (Chapter 14)
5 The arrival of Ravana (18th Chapter)
6 Sundara Kandam-An introduction
7 Further news about the consolation of Sita (Chapter 68)
8 Telling of the memento news and giving of the hair brooch (Chapter 65)
9 Seeking clarifications of the message of Sita (Chapter 66)
10 Informing the message of Sita (Chapter 67)
11 Hurting of the security staff of the forest (Chapter 62)
12 Return of Hanuman and other monkeys (Chapter 64)
13 Informing about the destruction of the honey forest (Chapter 63)
14 Words of Angadha (Chapter 60)
15 Destruction of Honey forest (Chapter 61)
16 Telling the happenings of Lanka
17 Thinking about future action (Chapter 59)
18 The crossing of the sea from Lanka (Chapter 56)
19 Fear of the monkey (Chapter 55)
20 Reaching the northern shore of the sea (Chapter 57)
21 Sunderkand: Burning of the city of Lanka (Chapter 54)
- 21.1 Related

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

Twenty sixth Chapter

Sita’s decision to commit suicide

(Sita who is extremely sad lists out logical reasons for her to commit suicide and decides on that course)

That wailing daughter of Janaka, with a bent head, eye full of tears and crying like a child was similar to the one who is mad, who has lost her wisdom and who is fear struck and started wailing like a mare rolling in mud to get rid of her tiresomeness. 1-2

When Raghava (One who belongs to the clan of Raghu) was ignorant and away, this rakshasa called Ravana, who can assume any shape he wants, attacked me and abducted me and brought me here, when was crying. 3

Being in the custody of Rakshasis and being bullied by them terribly, I have become very sad and very much worried and so I am not interested in living further. 4

Without Rama the great charioteer and being in the custody of Rakshasis, there is no purpose in my living even with riches and ornaments. 5

My mind must be a very hard granite stone or a thing which does not erode or die, because even with all this sorrow, it is not breaking. 6

Being with less of virtue and not being a lady, I should have been destroyed and in spite of being not in the company of Rama this sinner is protecting her life for this small period. 7

What interest have I to look after my body and continue to live after parting from my darling, who is the lord of all land surrounded by the sea and who has such a sweet desirable speech? 8

I would not like to tolerate this great sorrow of being away from him for a long time and I do not mind even if I am cut in to pieces or eaten alive. 9

I would not even touch this base thief Ravana by even by my left feet and where is the question of my making love to him? 10

That cruel one, who desires to request me to be his wife does not understand when he is being rejected by me with aversion, nor does he understand his stature nor his family. 11

I would not accede to Ravana , even if I am crushed or cut or put in a raging fire. What is the point in this waiting? 12

I doubt that Sri Rama who is very knowledgeable, grateful, shows mercy to those in danger, well behaved and very famous, is devoid of any pity towards me due to my lack of luck. 13

Why is he, who exterminated fourteen thousand Rakshasas all alone in Janasthana not interested in saving me? 14

This Ravana with very little valor has imprisoned me and I do not have any doubt that my husband is capable of winning him in war. 15

Why is it that Rama who killed that great Rakshasa Viradha in Dandakaranya not freeing me from this custody and taking me back? 16

(Viradha was a Gandharwa who was cured by his master Kubhera.He fought with Rama and Lakshmana and was killed)

It is true that this Lanka is in the middle of the ocean and prevents the entry of outsiders but I do not think that it is capable of preventing the arrows of Raghava. 17

What could be the reason that a very stable hero like Sri Rama does not come here and release his darling wife, I do not understand. 18

I believe that the great valorous one who is the elder brother of Lakshmana does not know that I am here, for once he knows about it he will not tolerate this insult. 19

That great king of hawks who would have rushed to Raghava and informed him that I have been abducted by Ravana fell in the battle. 20

(She is referring to Jatayu, the hawk son of Varuna, who fought with Ravana and died in the battle. However he was alive till he told Rama that Ravana had abducted her. Rama cremated him in the forest with all honours. Sita was ignorant of this story)

In spite of the fact that the Jatayu, who no doubt is old was defeated in the wrestling fight against Ravana and was defeated though he did a very great job. 21

If that Raghava knows that I am here, immediately with great anger using his arrows he would make the world devoid of Rakshasas , he would blow Lanka away , dry the great ocean and even destroy the name and fame of Ravana. 22-23

Afterwards, similar to my crying and wailing, in every house of Sri Lanka, these Rakshasis who have become widows would cry and possibly cry more. 24

Rama accompanied by Lakshmana would search and find out Lanka, and it is definite that the enemy, once found out by them will not even live for a second more. 25

Soon, this Lanka is going to be filled with the smoke emanating from burning coffins and would be like a cremation ground filled with crowds of hawks. 26

Within a short time my desire would be fulfilled and definitely and this bad conduct of yours would lead to the destruction of you all. 27

Within a short time this Lanka is going to loose its luster and very many bad omens are visible even now. 28

When the great sinner and the worst among Rakshasas is killed then this Sri Lanka which is impregnable , is going to get weakened like a lady who has become a widow. 29

This fertile and rich Sri Lanka which has lots of holy festivals and the Rakshasas would become leaderless like a lady who has lost her husband. 30

In this place, I am going to hear soon the wailing of Rakshasis who are sad and pained from every house. 31

Once the red eyed valorous Sri Rama knows that I am alive and in the house of Ravana, then definitely, Lanka would be burned by the arrows of Sri Rama and would become dark by losing its luster and would be filled with dead Rakshasas. 32-33

The limit of time which has been fixed by this cruel and base Ravana is approaching near. 34

These Rakshasas, who are sinners do not know that they are performing acts which should not be done and would as a result, danger would definitely come to all those who live in this town. 35

These flesh eating Rakshasas do not understand what is just action and it is definite that they would fix me for breakfast. 36

Without seeing Rama, who has eyes with red corners and who is pleasing to the eye, what can IÂ Â who am very sorrowful do? 37

If it happens that any one here, would give me poison, I being without my husband would go and see the God of death. 38

Rama who is the elder brother of Bharatha must be ignorant of the fact that I am alive for if not they both would not spare any effort to find me in this earth. 39

That valorous elder brother of Lakshmana due to the sorrow because of me, must have left this body and must have reached heaven. 40

How lucky are those devas, Gandarwas, Siddhas and sages because they are able to see the lotus eyed Sri Rama who is my lord. 41

(Assumes Lord Rama has reached the heaven)

Possibly there is nothing I can do as a wife to Sri Rama who is very wise, who is very charitable, who is like a royal sage and who is the personification of God. 42

Thankless people show love towards you when you are near them and do not show love when you are not near, but Rama is never like that. 43

Is it because I do not have desirable traits or is it because that I am not lucky, that I, in spite of being a woman, is suffering because of the absence of Rama. 44

I think it would be better for me to die rather than live away from Rama who is a great man, who has a faultless character, who is heroic and who is capable of destroying his enemies. 45

Or is it that those two brothers who follow just action and who are sterling among men have decided to throw away their ornaments and live in the forest eating only fruits and roots.? 46

Or is it possible that those heroic brothers have been killed using deceit by Ravana who is the king of Rakshasa and a bad one? 47

In this state I wish to die but I do not get a suitable death even in this very sad state. 48

Those who do not have likes and dislikes are very great souls , for they have won over their senses , they are very lucky, they are really sages, they are recognized by the world and are the ones who should beÂ really applauded. 49

When pleasures come , mind is not having sorrow. When sadness comes there is pain in the mind. My salutations to those who stand separately from both these states. 50

I who am not able to achieve such victory over mind have got away from my husband Rama who lives according to law and am in the custody of Ravana and so I am going to commit suicide. 51

Thus ends the twenty sixth chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.

Seeing of good omens (Chapter 29)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Twenty-ninth (29th) Chapter Seeing of good omens (Good omens occurred to Sita who was consoled by those omens and gained more confidence) Good omens approached her who is faultless; who does forever good, who was mentally perturbed and who because of lack of happiness was terribly…

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