Trijata Dreams of a Burning Lanka and Ravana Riding South upon a Donkey
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 11
Doha 11 · Movement 1 of 2
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Among the demonesses stands Trijata, skilled in discernment and devoted to Rama's feet. She calls the others near and tells them to serve Sita if they desire their own welfare. A dream has shown her the future already moving beneath the night.
A monkey burns Lanka and destroys the demon army. Ravana, naked upon a donkey, head shaven and twenty arms severed, travels toward the south. The city passes into Vibhishana's hands, and the cry of Raghuvira's victory circles through its streets.
Then the Lord sends for Sita. Trijata proclaims that the dream will become true within four days. The demonesses who arrived in monstrous forms now fall frightened at Janaki's feet. Prophecy has reversed the field of terror before the first flame has touched Lanka.
In Trijata's dream, the hidden monkey is already fire and Ravana is already riding toward his end.
Read the passage from the Manas
त्रिजटा नाम राच्छसी एका। राम चरन रति निपुन बिबेका।। सबन्हौ बोलि सुनाएसि सपना। सीतहि सेइ करहु हित अपना।। सपनें बानर लंका जारी। जातुधान सेना सब मारी।। खर आरूढ़ नगन दससीसा। मुंडित सिर खंडित भुज बीसा।। एहि बिधि सो दच्छिन दिसि जाई। लंका मनहुँ बिभीषन पाई।। नगर फिरी रघुबीर दोहाई। तब प्रभु सीता बोलि पठाई।। यह सपना में कहउँ पुकारी। होइहि सत्य गएँ दिन चारी।। तासु बचन सुनि ते सब डरीं। जनकसुता के चरनन्हि परीं।।
Among them was a demoness named Trijata, devoted to Rama's feet and gifted with deep viveka, true discernment. She called all the demonesses together and told them her dream: serve Sita and secure your own welfare. In the dream, a monkey set Lanka ablaze and slaughtered the entire demon army. The ten-headed Ravana rode naked on a donkey, his head shaved, his twenty arms severed. In this manner he traveled southward, and Lanka seemed to have passed into Vibhishana's hands. The victory cry of Raghuvira rang through the city, and then the Lord sent for Sita. This dream I proclaim aloud: it will come true within four days. Hearing her words, all the demonesses grew frightened and fell at the feet of Janaka's daughter.