Śūrpaṇakhā approaches Rāvaṇa; Sītā enters into the fire leaving Her shadow behind

Sortas

ripu ruja pāvaka pāpa prabhu ahi gania na chōṭa kari.

asa kahi bibidha bilāpa kari lāgī rōdana karana..21ka.. [3-20(B)-21(A)]

sabhā mājha pari byākula bahu prakāra kaha rōi.

tōhi jiata dasakaṃdhara mōri ki asi gati hōi..21kha.. [3-21(B)]

“An enemy, a malady, fire, sin, a master, and a serpent are never to be accounted trifles.” So saying and with profuse laments she set to weeping. In her distress she threw herself down in Rāvaṇa’s court and with many a tear said, “Do you think, my ten-headed brother, that I should be reduced to this state even though you are alive?”

Chaupais

sunata sabhāsada uṭhē akulāī. samujhāī gahi bāhaom uṭhāī..

kaha laṃkēsa kahasi nija bātā. kēṃiom tava nāsā kāna nipātā.. [3-21(B)-1]

avadha nṛpati dasaratha kē jāē. puruṣa siṃgha bana khēlana āē..

samujhi parī mōhi unha kai karanī. rahita nisācara karihahiṃ dharanī.. [3-21(B)-2]

jinha kara bhujabala pāi dasānana. abhaya bhaē bicarata muni kānana..

dēkhata bālaka kāla samānā. parama dhīra dhanvī guna nānā.. [3-21(B)-3]

atulita bala pratāpa dvau bhrātā. khala badha rata sura muni sukhadātā..

sōbhādhāma rāma asa nāmā. tinha kē saṃga nāri ēka syāmā.. [3-21(B)-4]

rupa rāsi bidhi nāri saomvārī. rati sata kōṭi tāsu balihārī..

tāsu anuja kāṭē śruti nāsā. suni tava bhagini karahiṃ parihāsā.. [3-21(B)-5]

khara dūṣana suni lagē pukārā. chana mahu sakala kaṭaka unha mārā..

khara dūṣana tisirā kara ghātā. suni dasasīsa jarē saba gātā.. [3-21(B)-6]

On hearing this the courtiers rose in great bewilderment; taking her by the arm they lifted her up and comforted her. Said the king of Laṅkā, “Tell me what has happened to you. Who has struck off your nose and ears?” “Two sons of Daśaratha, the lord of Ayodhyā, who are lions among men, are out for hunting in the woods. The estimate that I have formed of their doing is that they will rid the earth of demons. Relying on the might of their arm, O ten-headed Rāvaṇa, the hermits roam about the woods without fear. Though quite young to look at, they are terrible as Death, the staunchest of archers and accomplished in many ways. Both brothers are unequalled in might and glory; devoted to the extermination of the wicked, they are a source of delight to gods and sages. The elder of the two who is an abode of beauty, is known by the name of Rāma; he has with him a young belle. The Creator made that woman the very embodiment of loveliness; a hundred million Ratis (consorts of the god of love) are trifles before her. It was his younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa) who chopped off my ears and nose and made a mock of me when he heard that I was your sister. When Khara and Dūṣaṇa heard of it, they went to avenge the wrong done to me; but Rāma slew the whole army in a trice!” The tenheaded demon (Rāvaṇa) burned all over (with rage) when he heard of the destruction of Khara, Dūṣaṇa and Triśirā.

Dohas

supanakhahi samujhāi kari bala bōlēsi bahu bhāomti.

gayau bhavana ati sōcabasa nīda parai nahiṃ rāti..22.. [3-22]

Having consoled Śūrpaṇakhā he boasted of his strength in many ways; but he retired to his palace full of great anxiety and could not sleep the whole night.

Chaupais

sura nara asura nāga khaga māhīṃ. mōrē anucara kahaom kōu nāhīṃ..

khara dūṣana mōhi sama balavaṃtā. tinhahi kō mārai binu bhagavaṃtā.. [3-22-1]

sura raṃjana bhaṃjana mahi bhārā. jauṃ bhagavaṃta līnha avatārā..

tau mai jāi bairu haṭhi karaūom. prabhu sara prāna tajēṃ bhava taraūom.. [3-22-2]

hōihi bhajanu na tāmasa dēhā. mana krama bacana maṃtra dṛḍha ēhā..

jauṃ nararupa bhūpasuta kōū. harihau nāri jīti rana dōū.. [3-22-3]

calā akēla jāna caḍhi tahavāom. basa mārīca siṃdhu taṭa jahavāom..

ihāom rāma jasi juguti banāī. sunahu umā sō kathā suhāī.. [3-22-4]

Among gods, human beings, demons, Nāgas and birds,” he thought, “there is none who can withstand my servants. As for Khara and Dūṣaṇa, they were as powerful as myself; who else could have killed them, had it not been the Lord Himself? If therefore the Lord Himself, the Delighter of the gods and the Reliever of Earth’s burden, has appeared on earth, I will go and resolutely fight with him and cross the ocean of mundane existence by falling to His arrows. Adoration is out of question in this (demoniac) body, which is made up of the principle of ignorance, Tamasā. Therefore, such is my firm resolve in thought, word and deed. And if they happen to be some mortal princes I shall conquer them both in battle and carry off the bride.” Having thus made up his mind, he mounted his chariot and drove off alone to the spot where Mārīca was living by the sea-shore. Now, hear, Umā, the delectable account of the device that Śrī Rāma employed

Dohas

lachimana gaē banahiṃ jaba lēna mūla phala kaṃda.

janakasutā sana bōlē bihasi kṛpā sukha bṛṃda.. 23.. [3-23]

When Lakṣmaṇa had gone to the woods to gather roots, fruits and bulbs, Śrī Rāma, the very encarnation of compassion and joy, spoke with a smile to Janaka’s Daughter:-

Chaupais

sunahu priyā brata rucira susīlā. maiṃ kachu karabi lalita naralīlā..

tumha pāvaka mahu karahu nivāsā. jau lagi karauṃ nisācara nāsā.. [3-23-1]

jabahiṃ rāma saba kahā bakhānī. prabhu pada dhari hiyaom anala samānī..

nija pratibiṃba rākhi tahaom sītā. taisai sīla rupa subinītā.. [3-23-2]

lachimanahūom yaha maramu na jānā. jō kachu carita racā bhagavānā..

dasamukha gayau jahāom mārīcā. nāi mātha svāratha rata nīcā.. [3-23-3]

navani nīca kai ati dukhadāī. jimi aṃkusa dhanu uraga bilāī..

bhayadāyaka khala kai priya bānī. jimi akāla kē kusuma bhavānī.. [3-23-4]

“Listen, my darling, who have been staunch in the holy vow of fidelity to me and are so virtuous in conduct: I am going to act a lovely human part. Abide in fire until I have completed the destruction of the demons.” No sooner had Śrī Rāma told Her everything in detail than She impressed the image of the Lord’s feet on Her heart and entered into the fire, leaving with Him only of a shadow of Hers, though precisely of the same appearance and the same amiable and gentle disposition. Lakṣmaṇa too did not know the secret of what the Lord had done behind the curtain. The ten-headed Rāvaṇa approached Mārīca and bowed his head to him, selfish and vile as he was. The meekness of a mean creature is a source of great trouble like the bending of a goad, bow, snake or cat. The friendly speech of a villain is as dangerous, Bhavānī (Pārvatī), as the flowers that blossom out of season.