Sita Hears That Ravana's Heads Return and Fears Fate Has Refused Her
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 99
Doha 99 · Movement 1 of 3
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That night Trijata comes to Sita and recounts the battle. When Sita hears that Ravana's severed heads and arms grow again, fear enters her heart and the color leaves her face. She asks Trijata, whom she calls mother, how the giver of sorrow to the world can ever die.
Raghupati's arrows cut him without ending him. Sita turns the mystery against herself. Her misfortune, she says, keeps Ravana alive and keeps her apart from Hari's lotus feet. The fate that fashioned the false golden deer, drove her to speak harshly to Lakshmana, and preserved her through the poisoned arrow of separation must still be angry with her.
She laments while remembering the ocean of compassion. Trijata answers that Ravana will die when an arrow enters his heart. Rama has not yet struck there because Vaidehi herself dwells within Ravana's heart. The battlefield's strange restraint is joined to the captive whom Rama protects even inside the enemy he must destroy.
Sita fears her sorrow keeps Ravana alive, while Trijata reveals that Rama's arrows still protect the place where Sita dwells.
Read the passage from the Manas
तेही निसि सीता पहिं जाई। त्रिजटा कहि सब कथा सुनाई।। सिर भुज बाढ़ि सुनत रिपु केरी। सीता उर भइ त्रास घनेरी।। मुख मलीन उपजी मन चिंता। त्रिजटा सन बोली तब सीता।। होइहि कहा कहसि किन माता। केहि बिधि मरिहि बिस्व दुखदाता।। रघुपति सर सिर कटेहुँ न मरई। बिधि बिपरीत चरित सब करई।। मोर अभाग्य जिआवत ओही। जेहिं हौ हरि पद कमल बिछोही।। जेहिं कृत कपट कनक मृग झूठा। अजहुँ सो दैव मोहि पर रूठा।। जेहिं बिधि मोहि दुख दुसह सहाए। लछिमन कहुँ कटु बचन कहाए।। रघुपति बिरह सबिष सर भारी। तकि तकि मार बार बहु मारी।। ऐसेहुँ दुख जो राख मम प्राना। सोइ बिधि ताहि जिआव न आना।। बहु बिधि कर बिलाप जानकी। करि करि सुरति कृपानिधान की।। कह त्रिजटा सुनु राजकुमारी। उर सर लागत मरइ सुरारी।। प्रभु ताते उर हतइ न तेही। एहि के हृदयँ बसति बैदेही।।
That very night Trijata went to Sita and narrated the entire story to her. Hearing of the enemy's heads and arms being severed, great fear arose in Sita's heart. Her face became pale and anxiety arose in her mind. Then Sita spoke to Trijata. What will happen, why don't you tell me, mother? In what way will the giver of sorrow to the world die? Even if his head is cut by Raghupati's arrow, he does not die. Fate makes everything go contrary. My misfortune keeps him alive, by which I am separated from Hari's lotus feet. The same fate that created the false golden deer through deception is still angry with me. The same fate that made me endure unbearable sorrow and speak harsh words to Lakshmana. The heavy poisonous arrow of separation from Raghupati has struck and killed me many times over. The same fate that keeps my life even in such suffering will not let that demon die either. Janaki lamented in many ways, repeatedly remembering the ocean of compassion. Trijata said, 'Listen, O princess! The enemy of gods dies when the arrow strikes his chest.' The Lord does not strike his chest because Vaidehi dwells in his heart.