December 14 - Sarga 33 of Yuddha Kanda.
As Sita continued wailing and rolling on the ground, immensely distraught at the turn of events, a rakshasi by the name of Sarama, who had been drafted into the duty of guarding her, approached her with great sympathy and friendliness.
Sarama had shown herself to be a kind and considerate one and a friendship had sprung up between Sita and her. As Sarama approached Sita now, Valmiki describes Sita to be like a mare in utter agony that wallows in the ground and gathers much dust on her person.
समाश्वसिहि वैदेहि मा भूत्ते मनसो व्यथा ।
उक्ता यद्रावणेन त्वं प्रत्युक्तश्च स्वयं त्वया ॥
सखी स्नेहेन तद्भीरु मया सर्वं प्रतिश्रुतम् ।
लीनया गहने शून्ये भयमुत्सृज्य रावणात् तव हेतोः विशालाक्षि न हि मे रावणाद् भयम् ॥
"Dear Vaidehi, be assured by me, you have no reason for this sorrow. Indeed, I hid myself well and listened to whatever Ravana said to you and also your reply. Oh lady with the big eyes, know that I overcame my fear of Ravana and managed to hide and hear the whole conversation."
स संभ्रान्तश्च निष्क्रान्तो यत्कृते मे विदितम् "I also went and found out what made Ravana leave in a hurry."
न शक्यं सौप्तिकं कर्तुं रामस्य विदितात्मनः ।
वधश्च पुरुषव्याघ्रे तस्मिन् नैवोपपद्यते ॥
"Oh Sita, know this for certain. No one can mount a surprise attack on Sri Rama, a man of self-realization, by attacking him in his sleep. There is absolutely no way that Sri Rama, the tiger among brave men, can be killed as such."
"Nor are all the vanaras easy prey for they can uproot and fight with trees! Also, just as the gods are under the protection of great rishis, these vanaras are also under the protection of none other than Sri Rama!"
दीर्घवृत्तभुजः श्रीमान्महोरस्कः प्रतापवान् ।
धन्वी संहननोपेतो धर्मात्मा भुवि विश्रुतः ॥
"Indeed, the whole world knows that Sri Rama is long-armed, with a broad chest, and possesses great valour. Sri Rama who wields his great bow is also known to be most righteous, an added virtue of his renowned personality. "
"Ravana, with his corrupted mind and despicable deeds, is the enemy of all creatures. This terrible evidence (decapitated head and bow) that distressed you was presented to you by Ravana by sheer subterfuge and magical illusion."
"Oh, Sita, your days of distress are indeed over. All auspiciousness is waiting to come to you. All good will happen to you and you will become most happy. Hear from me now how it will come."
"Sri Rama has crossed the ocean! He has come with a mighty vanara army! He has encamped on the seashore nearby. In fact, I went and saw for myself and got a glimpse of Sri Rama with Lakshmana. They are absolutely safe with their well-organized army. This news has reached Ravana through his several messengers. In fact, Ravana is right now in a secret strategy meeting with his counsellors."
Just as Sarama was telling all this to Sita, a huge noise came to their ears from the movement of the rakshasa army. The terrific uproar was accompanied by the beating of war drums. It sounded like the great rumble of clouds. Sarama pointed out how the sounds indicated the readying of war elephants and the yoking of horses to chariots, as well as the marching of thousands of rakshasa soldiers. She said to Sita that she had seen colourful contingents all converging into battle readiness. Sarama compared the blinding glitter of their raised weapons to the sight of a forest fire. She also said that all the soldiers displayed great anxiety. No wonder, because the Lakshmi of good outcomes had now shifted her camp to the side of Sita! श्रीः त्वां भजति
"Oh, Sita, your lotus-eyed Sri Rama, incomparable as a warrior, with his temper under his full control ( a prerequisite for resolute and successful endeavour always) is, along with Lakshmana, going to kill Ravana in battle and come to you soon. They are like Indra and Vishnu, the gods!"
आगतस्य हि रामस्य क्षिप्रमङ्कगतां सतीम् अहं द्रक्ष्यामि सिद्धार्थां त्वां शत्रौ विनिपातिते
"Oh Sita, I am going to see you soon seated cosily on Sri Rama's lap, now that he has arrived! The fall of his enemies is a foregone conclusion."
"You shall embrace Sri Rama and shed copious tears of joy, oh Janaki!"
"Sri Rama will himself disentangle the single braid that you have worn all these months."
"Sri Rama will win the battle soon and become happy again getting all that he desires. You shall bloom like the dried-up fields do on receipt of copious rains. Bow down, Sita, to the Sun god, as he circles overhead, He is your family deity too (Ikshwaku). Indeed Sun will confer all grace on you and on all citizens as they deserve."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
