December 22 - Sargas 48 and 49 of Yuddha Kanda.
Sita imagines the worst and mourns terribly the demise of Sri Rama and Lakshmana as only a woman in her position would. Trijata tells her to examine closely and notice that the signs on Sri Rama's and Lakshmana's faces show they are still alive. She also assures Sita that they are no ordinary mortals and will eventually be victorious.
Sri Rama meanwhile regains his consciousness. Unmindful of his own injuries, he sees Lakshmana. Again Sri Rama imagines the worst. He considers his entire mission a failure and says he will end his life, now that Lakshmana is no more. He profusely thanks Sugriva and the vanara heroes and asks them to return to Kishkindha.
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भर्तारं निहतं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम् ।
विललाप भृशं सीता करुणं शोककर्शिता ॥
ऊचुर्लाक्षणिका ये मां पु्त्रिण्यविधवेति च ।
तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः ॥
"Seeing her husband dead, along with the great warrior Lakshmana, Sita wept bitterly, engulfed in sorrow.
"I was told by great wise men who knew astrology when I was young that I would bear children, and never become a widow. They have all now been proved to have spoken lies, now that I am seeing Sri Rama dead.
"They told me my husband would perform great sacrifices and rule his kingdom wonderfully. They have all been proved to be untruthful.
"They told me I would become a great queen and would be venerated by my king of a husband. Alas, how untrue they were!"
Sita now lists all her physical attributes of auspicious beauty in much intimate detail, which knowledgeable people had pointed to saying that these attributes would all augur great marital happiness and prosperity for Sita as a queen. Alas, how untrue!
Sita recalls with much feeling how Sri Rama and Lakshmana took such great care of her in Janasthana. And later they even built a bridge over the ocean to come and take her back after her abduction. What a trivial way for them now to die at the hands of some rakshasas! All those divine weapons like Agneya, Varuna, Aindra, Brahmashiras, which they possessed, were not even deployed by them in the war before they died! What a terrible irony that they were killed by Indrajit who resorted to Maya and shot at them after becoming invisible! Indeed, if he had become visible, he would not have survived Sri Rama's arrows! It shows that Kala (Fate) is supreme and even Sri Rama has been subjugated by Fate along with his brother.
Sita grieves bitterly for Kausalya, who is fondly awaiting her glorious son's return to Ayodhya.
Now Trijata speaks. "Look, Devi Sita! Sri Rama is still alive."
कारणानि च वक्ष्यामि महान्ति सदृशानि च ।
यथेमौ जीवितो देवि भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥
"Sita, let me point out to you the clear and significant signs that Sri Rama and Lakshmana are both still alive."
"Look at the vanaras. They are still displaying a fighting spirit and have not come to a sense of desolation. That means their supreme lord is still alive. Even this Pushpaka Vimana is a sacred vehicle. It would not have carried you if you had been rendered a widow. Also, see that the vanaras are vigilantly guarding the two brothers. That means they are alive. Believe me, Devi Sita, they are both alive."
Trijata says she has never resorted to untruth and so Sita should trust her. She explains that Sita has become very dear to her owing to her nobility of character and great conduct. After all, Trijata says that no gods or demons can kill Sri Rama and Lakshmana in battle. She can clearly see the signs of their invincible glory. Their faces are radiant still. दृश्यमानेषु वक्त्रेषु परं भवति वैकृतम् The faces of dead men have tell-tale signs. There is therefore no way the brothers are dead and Sita should get out of her distress.
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Sita was consoled, folded her hands, and thanked Trijata. They all soon returned to Ashoka Vana in the Pushpaka Vimana.
***
Sri Rama soon regained consciousness. Valmiki says this was because of his great physical constitution and his mastery of yoga. Sri Rama sat up and started weeping over Lakshmana's condition.
किं नु मे सीतया कार्यं लब्धया जीवितेन वा ।
शयानं योऽद्य पश्यामि भ्रातरं युधि निर्जितम् ॥
"Alas! Of what use is my freeing Sita and getting her back alive, now that I see Lakshmana lying defeated in battle!
शक्या सीतासमा नारी मर्त्यलोके विचिन्वता ।
न लक्ष्मण समो भ्राता सचिवः साम्परायिकः ॥
"If one searched the world thoroughly, maybe one would find a woman as glorious as Sita. But it is impossible to find a dear brother, a wise confidant, and a military strategist, all rolled into one, like my Lakshmana!"
Sri Rama avers that if Lakshmana passes away, Sri Rama will give up his life right in front of these vanaras. How will Sri Rama return to Ayodhya and explain to Kausalya and Kaikeyi that Lakshmana is no more? Sumitra, with her heart aflutter in waiting for the return of her dear son - how will Sri Rama face her? Console her? How will he break it to Bharata and Shatrughna that Lakshmana who had come away with him is no more? Sri Rama says he cannot face the mothers. He will give up his life.
Sri Rama blames himself totally for Lakshmana's defeat and lying almost dead गतासुवत् .
Lakshmana had always bolstered Sri Rama's mood and encouraged him about the future whenever he had felt lost. Now Lakshmana is unable to even speak! Lakshmana had fought so bravely with all the rakshasas and had been such a terror, but now he was himself laid low. Just as Lakshmana used to follow Sri Rama in the forest step for step, Sri Rama says that he will follow Lakshmana to Yamaloka.
Lakshmana was equally adored and revered as Sri Rama by every near and dear one. Now Lakshmana had driven Sri Rama to this loneliness. Lakshmana had never spoken in anger or used harsh words to Sri Rama. He was more adept at archery than even Kartiviryarjuna. A warrior capable of defeating Indra in battle, one who deserved to sleep in royal beds, now slept on a bed of arrows on the battlefield. Alas!
Sri Rama says his promise of crowning Vibhishana has been belied and this now shows how hollow his promise was. Sri Rama says, "Oh Sugriva, please return to your kingdom at once! Do not allow Ravana to mistreat you as I will be gone. Please take all your army, all weapons and equipment and follow Angada, Nila, and Nala over the bridge." Sri Rama individually thanks all the vanara and bear warrior chiefs profusely for their acts of bravery and selflessness in his battle. He says Fate has had the last word, Sugriva had done everything in his power to help Sri Rama's cause.
The vanaras were now shedding copious tears at the turn of events. Vibhishana had been busy organizing and restoring the battle readiness in the vanara army. He now returned to where Sri Rama was.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
