The Rámáyan of Válmíki by Valmiki

Author:Valmiki [Valmiki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

Canto LVII. Sítá Comforted.

Soon as the fiend had set her down

Within his home in Lanká's town

Triumph and joy filled Indra's breast,

Whom thus the Eternal Sire addressed:

“This deed will free the worlds from woe

And cause the giants' overthrow.

The fiend has borne to Lanká's isle

The lady of the lovely smile,

True consort born to happy fate

With features fair and delicate.

[pg 297]

She looks and longs for Ráma's face,

But sees a crowd of demon race,

And guarded by the giant's train

Pines for her lord and weeps in vain.

But Lanká founded on a steep

Is girdled by the mighty deep,

And how will Ráma know his fair

And blameless wife is prisoned there?

She on her woe will sadly brood

And pine away in solitude,

And heedless of herself, will cease

To live, despairing of release.

Yes, pondering on her fate, I see

Her gentle life in jeopardy.

Go, Indra, swiftly seek the place,

And look upon her lovely face.

Within the city make thy way:

Let heavenly food her spirit stay.”

Thus Brahma spake: and He who slew

The cruel demon Páka, flew

Where Lanká's royal city lay,

And Sleep went with him on his way.

“Sleep,” cried the heavenly Monarch, “close

Each giant's eye in deep repose.”

Thus Indra spoke, and Sleep fulfilled

With joy his mandate, as he willed,

To aid the plan the Gods proposed,

The demons' eyes in sleep she closed.

Then Śachí's lord, the Thousand-eyed,

To the Aśoka garden hied.

He came and stood where Sítá lay,

And gently thus began to say:

“Lord of the Gods who hold the sky,

Dame of the lovely smile, am I.

Weep no more, lady, weep no more;

Thy days of woe will soon be o'er.

I come, O Janak's child, to be

The helper of thy lord and thee.

He through my grace, with hosts to aid,

This sea-girt land will soon invade.

'Tis by my art that slumbers close

The eyelids of thy giant foes.

Now I, with Sleep, this place have sought,

Videhan lady, and have brought

A gift of heaven's ambrosial food

To stay thee in thy solitude.

Receive it from my hand, and taste,

O lady of the dainty waist:

For countless ages thou shall be

From pangs of thirst and hunger free.”

But doubt within her bosom woke

As to the Lord of Gods she spoke:

“How may I know for truth that thou

Whose form I see before me now

Art verily the King adored

By heavenly Gods, and Śachí's lord?

With Raghu's sons I learnt to know

The certain signs which Godhead show.

These marks before mine eyes display

If o'er the Gods thou bear the sway.”

The heavenly lord of Śachí heard,

And did according to her word.

Above the ground his feet were raised;

With eyelids motionless he gazed.

No dust upon his raiment lay,

And his bright wreath was fresh and gay.

Nor was the lady's glad heart slow

The Monarch of the Gods to know,

And while the tears unceasing ran

From her sweet eyes she thus began:

“My lord has gained a friend in thee,

And I this day thy presence see

Shown clearly to mine eyes, as when

Ráma and Lakshmaṇ, lords of men,

Beheld it, and their sire the king,

And Janak too from whom I spring.

Now I, O Monarch of the Blest,

Will eat this food at thy behest,

Which thou hast brought me, of thy grace,

To aid and strengthen Raghu's race.

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