Sita Begs the Ashoka Tree for Fire while One Moment Becomes an Age for Hanuman
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 12
Doha 12 · Movement 1 of 2
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With folded hands Sita calls Trijata mother and companion in calamity. The anguish of separation can no longer be borne. Bring wood, build a pyre, and set it alight. Trijata clasps Sita's feet, speaks of Rama's glory and strength, then explains that fire cannot be found at night and returns home.
Fate appears hostile. Embers shine in the sky, but not one star descends. The moon seems made of fire, yet will not release a flame. Sita turns to the Ashoka tree: be true to your name, remove sorrow, and give the fire visible in your tender red leaves.
Hanuman sees her overwhelmed by separation. The servant who crossed the ocean without rest can barely endure the interval before he acts. That single moment stretches around him like a kalpa. Hidden among the branches, he must turn Rama's ring into an answer before the desire for fire becomes a pyre.
Sita asks the Ashoka leaves for flame, and one waiting moment becomes an age inside Hanuman.
Read the passage from the Manas
त्रिजटा सन बोली कर जोरी। मातु बिपति संगिनि तैं मोरी।। तजौं देह करु बेगि उपाई। दुसहु बिरहु अब नहिं सहि जाई।। आनि काठ रचु चिता बनाई। मातु अनल पुनि देहि लगाई।। सत्य करहि मम प्रीति सयानी। सुनै को श्रवन सूल सम बानी।। सुनत बचन पद गहि समुझाएसि। प्रभु प्रताप बल सुजसु सुनाएसि।। निसि न अनल मिल सुनु सुकुमारी। अस कहि सो निज भवन सिधारी।। कह सीता बिधि भा प्रतिकूला। मिलहि न पावक मिटिहि न सूला।। देखिअत प्रगट गगन अंगारा। अवनि न आवत एकउ तारा।। पावकमय ससि स्त्रवत न आगी। मानहुँ मोहि जानि हतभागी।। सुनहि बिनय मम बिटप असोका। सत्य नाम करु हरु मम सोका।। नूतन किसलय अनल समाना। देहि अगिनि जनि करहि निदाना।। देखि परम बिरहाकुल सीता। सो छन कपिहि कलप सम बीता।।
With folded hands, Sita spoke to Trijata: Mother, you have been my companion in misfortune. I wish to leave this body. Quickly arrange the means. This unbearable viraha can no longer be endured. Bring wood and build a funeral pyre, Mother, then set it alight. If your love for me is true, O wise one, who could bear to hear words that pierce the ear like thorns? Hearing this, Trijata clasped Sita's feet and consoled her, recounting the Lord's prataap, his strength and glorious fame. Listen, tender one, fire cannot be found at night. With these words, she returned to her own dwelling. Sita said: Fate has turned against me. I cannot find fire, yet the torment will not end. Glowing embers blaze openly across the sky, but not a single star descends to the earth. The fiery moon does not drip a drop of flame, as though it knows me to be ill-fated. Hear my prayer, O Ashoka tree. Be true to your name and remove my shoka, my sorrow. Your tender new leaves glow like fire. Grant me that flame, do not delay. Seeing Sita in the grip of extreme viraha, that single moment passed for Hanuman like a kalpa, an entire age.