August 28 - Sargas 63 and 64 of Aranya Kanda.
As time passes, Sri Rama goes into a frenzy of self-pity and is incensed that nature all around does not give any hints about what has happened to Sita. Lakshmana says that the animals and trees seem to be pointing southward. They proceed in a southerly direction.
They come upon flowers and parts of gold ornaments that have dropped off from Sita's person. They also see footprints of Sita following some monstrously big footprints.
Then they come upon signs of a terrific battle with arrows strewn all around as well as a destroyed chariot. It is clear some people had fought over Sita.
Sri Rama flies into uncontrollable fury. He says he will destroy everything around as nobody is coming to their help in discovering Sita.
***
पूर्वं मया नूनमभीप्सितानि पापानि कर्माण्यसकृत्कृतानि ।
तत्रायमद्यापतितो विपाको दुःखेन दुःखं यदहं विशामि ॥
राज्यप्रणाशस्स्वजनैर्वियोगः पितुर्विनाशो जननीवियोगः ।
सर्वाणि मे लक्ष्मण शोकवेगमापूरयन्ति प्रविचिन्तनानि ॥
सर्वं तु दुःखं मम लक्ष्मणेदं शान्तं शरीरे वनमेत्य शून्यम् ।
सीतावियोगात्पुनरप्युदीर्णं काष्ठैरिवाग्निस्सहसा प्रदीप्तः ॥
"Oh Lakshmana, The series of sinful deeds I had committed gleefully in the past (lives) are now descending on me, bearing their fruits, seeing how I am getting into distress after distress.
"I lost my right to the kingdom and was banished away from my people. My father died. My mother was separated from me. All those memories of misfortune torment me together now.
"I had indeed, Lakshmana, hidden those sorrows away from my mind and my mind was restful after entering and living in this uninhabited and silent forest. But the memories are raging again in my mind after losing Sita. It is like how dry firewood sticks conflagrate instantly when they come into contact with fire."
Sri Rama asks the animals why they don't speak to him. He asks the Godavari river why she is not disclosing what has happened. The poet Valmiki says Godavari was so terrified of Ravana and his atrocities that she dared not speak. Sri Rama begs the Sun god overhead, one who is equal to all and sees everything constantly, why he does not speak now and say what has happened. He receives no answer.
Lakshmana says something significant now:
शोकम्विमुञ्चार्य धृतिं भजस्व सोत्साहता चाऽस्तु विमार्गणेऽस्याः ।
उत्साहवन्तो हि नरा न लोके सीदन्ति कर्मस्वतिदुष्करेषु ॥
"Oh noble Sri Rama, please abandon this grief. With enthusiasm doubled, search for Sita. Only those with spirit and enthusiasm can face life's troubles and engage themselves in the most difficult tasks." In other words, the tough get going when the going gets tough.
***
Somehow Lakshmana senses that all nature is pointing them in a southerly direction as if saying that Sita had gone southward. Even the skies seem to point that the search should be southward. Listening to him, Sri Rama starts going southward. Valmiki also says Lakshmana was not one to dawdle and walked fast.
Making progress, the brothers encounter several signals. Sri Rama recognizes many splendid flowers that are strewn on the path. Those same flowers had been used by him that morning to deck up Sita's hair and person. Then they see golden parts and golden beads that had separated from the many lustrous ornaments that Sita was wearing. So this was where Sita had passed!
But wait. They also see her footprints. Her footprints are following those of a huge rakshasa's footprints. Obviously, someone had dragged her away.
Then signs of a huge battle. Arrows. Broken golden bows. Weapons of all kinds. A broken chariot. A king's white umbrella with a hundred spokes, completely destroyed. His royal staff. A charioteer lying dead. Horses, nay, donkeys, with grotesque faces, all killed.
Obviously, at least two had fought over Sita.
For Sri Rama, enough is enough. He is now uncontrollably angry with the whole world. He girds up his loins and takes his bow and says he is going to destroy the whole existence, as nothing now makes sense and a good lady has not been saved from a calamity. Virtue seems to find no help anymore.
पुरेव मे चारुदतीमनिन्दितां दिशन्ति सीतां यदि नाद्य मैथिलीम् ।
सदेवगन्धर्वमनुष्यपन्नगं जगत् सशैलं परिवर्तयाम्यहम् ॥
"If the world around me does not, right now, this very instant, reveal Sita with her blemishless character and beautiful appearance, I shall turn it topsy-turvy, with the gods, celestials, humans, serpents, with all its life-forms and mountain peaks!"
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
