अचिरान्मोक्ष्यते सीते देवि ते जघनं गताम्। धृतामेकां बहून् मासान् वेणीं रामो महाबलः
Soon, O Sita, the mighty Rama will free you, goddess, from the captivity you have endured for many months, holding your single braid.
तस्य दृष्ट्वा मुखं देवि पूर्णचन्द्रमिवोदितम्। मोक्ष्यसे शोकजं वारि निर्मोकमिव पन्नगी
When you see his face, O goddess, shining like the full moon, you will be freed from tears born of sorrow, as a serpent sheds its skin.
रावणं समरे हत्वा नचिरादेव मैथिलि। त्वया समग्रः प्रियया सुखार्हो लप्स्यते सुखम्
After slaying Ravana in battle, Maithili, Rama will soon obtain happiness with you, his beloved, deserving of joy.
सभाजिता त्वं रामेण मोदिष्यसि महात्मना। सुवर्षेण समायुक्ता यथा सस्येन मेदिनी
Honored by Rama, you will rejoice with the great-souled one, as the earth rejoices, joined with abundant harvests in a good season.
गिरिवरमभितो विवर्तमानो हय इव मण्डलमाशु यः करोति। तमिह शरणमभ्युपैहि देवि दिवसकरं प्रभवो ह्ययं प्रजानाम्
Like a swift horse circling around the great mountain, approach him here for refuge, O goddess; for he is the source of light, the sun, and the origin of all beings.
thumb|चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः ॥६-
Let the thirty-fourth chapter be heard.
अथ तां जातसंतापां तेन वाक्येन मोहिताम्। सरमा ह्लादयामास महीं दग्धामिवाम्भसा
Then Saramā, seeing her overwhelmed by grief and bewildered by those words, comforted her as water soothes scorched earth.
ततस्तस्या हितं सख्याश्चिकीर्षन्ती सखी वचः। उवाच काले कालज्ञा स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिणी
Then, wishing to do what was beneficial for her friend, the wise Saramā, smiling before she spoke, addressed her at the proper time.
उत्सहेयमहं गत्वा त्वद्वाक्यमसितेक्षणे। निवेद्य कुशलं रामे प्रतिच्छन्ना निवर्तितुम्
O dark-eyed one, I am able to go and secretly convey your message to Rama, and return unnoticed, bringing news of his well-being.
नहि मे क्रममाणाया निरालम्बे विहायसि। समर्थो गतिमन्वेतुं पवनो गरुडोऽपि वा
Even the wind or Garuda could not match my speed as I move without support in the open sky.
एवं ब्रुवाणां तां सीता सरमामिदमब्रवीत्। मधुरं श्लक्ष्णया वाचा पूर्वशोकाभिपन्नया
As she spoke thus, Sita addressed Saramā with sweet and gentle words, though she was afflicted by her former sorrow.
समर्था गगनं गन्तुमपि च त्वं रसातलम्। अवगच्छाद्य कर्तव्यं कर्तव्यं ते मदन्तरे
You are capable of ascending to the sky or even reaching the netherworld; now understand what must be done, and what you must do for me.
मत्प्रियं यदि कर्तव्यं यदि बुद्धिः स्थिरा तव। ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तं गत्वा किं करोतीति रावणः
If you wish to do what pleases me, and if your mind is steadfast, I wish to know—go and find out what Ravana is doing.
स हि मायाबलः क्रूरो रावणः शत्रुरावणः। मां मोहयति दुष्टात्मा पीतमात्रेव वारुणी
For that Ravana, cruel and skilled in deceitful power, my enemy, that wicked-hearted one, bewilders me like wine after it is drunk.
तर्जापयति मां नित्यं भर्त्सापयति चासकृत्। राक्षसीभिः सुघोराभिर्यो मां रक्षति नित्यशः
He threatens me constantly, rebukes me repeatedly, and is always guarded by fierce rakshasis.
उद्विग्ना शङ्किता चास्मि न स्वस्थं च मनो मम। तद्भयाच्चाहमुद्विग्ना अशोकवनिकां गता
I am anxious and fearful, and my mind is not at peace; out of fear of him I have come to the Ashoka grove.
यदि नाम कथा तस्य निश्चितं वापि यद्भवेत्। निवेदयेथाः सर्वं तद् वरो मे स्यादनुग्रहः
If there is any definite news or story about him, please tell me everything; that would be a great favor and kindness to me.
साप्येवं ब्रुवतीं सीतां सरमा मृदुभाषिणी। उवाच वदनं तस्याः स्पृशन्ती बाष्पविक्लवम्
As Sita spoke thus, Sarama, gentle in speech, touched her tear-stained face and replied.
एष ते यद्यभिप्रायस्तस्माद् गच्छामि जानकि। गृह्य शत्रोरभिप्रायमुपावर्तामि मैथिलि
If this is your wish, O Janaki, I will go; I will learn the enemy’s intentions and return to you, O Maithili.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो गत्वा समीपं तस्य रक्षसः। शुश्राव कथितं तस्य रावणस्य समन्त्रिणः
Having spoken thus, she went to the rakshasa’s presence and listened to what Ravana said among his counselors.
सा श्रुत्वा निश्चयं तस्य निश्चयज्ञा दुरात्मनः। पुनरेवागमत् क्षिप्रमशोकवनिकां शुभाम्
Hearing the decision of that evil-minded one, who was resolute in his purpose, she quickly returned again to the auspicious Ashoka grove.
सा प्रविष्टा ततस्तत्र ददर्श जनकात्मजाम्। प्रतीक्षमाणां स्वामेव भ्रष्टपद्मामिव श्रियम्
Having entered there, she saw the daughter of Janaka, waiting for her own deliverance, like fortune fallen from a withered lotus.
तां तु सीता पुनः प्राप्तां सरमां प्रियभाषिणीम्। परिष्वज्य च सुस्निग्धं ददौ च स्वयमासनम्
Sita, seeing Sarama, who spoke kindly and had returned, embraced her affectionately and offered her a seat herself.
इहासीना सुखं सर्वमाख्याहि मम तत्त्वतः। क्रूरस्य निश्चयं तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः
Sit here and tell me everything truly and in detail: what is the cruel Ravana’s intention?
एवमुक्ता तु सरमा सीतया वेपमानया। कथितं सर्वमाचष्ट रावणस्य समन्त्रिणः
Thus addressed by the trembling Sita, Sarama related everything that Ravana had said among his counselors.
जनन्या राक्षसेन्द्रो वै त्वन्मोक्षार्थं बृहद्वचः। अतिस्निग्धेन वैदेहि मन्त्रिवृद्धेन चोदितः
The king of the rakshasas, urged by his mother and by his elder counselor, spoke at length for your release, O Vaidehi, with great affection.
दीयतामभिसत्कृत्य मनुजेन्द्राय मैथिली। निदर्शनं ते पर्याप्तं जनस्थाने यदद्भुतम्
Let Maithili be respectfully returned to the king of men; the marvel that happened in Janasthana is proof enough for you.
लङ्घनं च समुद्रस्य दर्शनं च हनूमतः। वधं च रक्षसां युद्धे कः कुर्यान्मानुषो युधि
Who among men could cross the ocean, see Hanuman, and slay the rakshasas in battle?
एवं स मन्त्रवृद्धैश्च मात्रा च बहुबोधितः। न त्वामुत्सहते मोक्तुमर्थमर्थपरो यथा
Though thus advised repeatedly by his mother and the wise counselors, he, being intent on his own interests, is not willing to release you.
नोत्सहत्यमृतो मोक्तुं युद्धे त्वामिति मैथिलि। सामात्यस्य नृशंसस्य निश्चयो ह्येष वर्तते
O Maithili, even Death himself cannot release you in battle; this is the resolve of that cruel king and his ministers.